The State Minister of Health Sarah Opendi, has warned health workers against treating patients for malaria without first carrying out tests.
Minister Opendi, who is in charge of general duties at the ministry, says that they have received reports of some health workers who administer anti-malaria medicine for every fever even if the cause is not established. She adds that some health workers do it intentionally in order to get rid of the high number of patients who visit health facilities
Addressing hundreds of Ugandans at the World Malaria Day celebrations in Fort Portal on Tuesday, Opendi wondered why despite the presence of microscopes and Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests in health facilities, health workers do not carry out tests. Opendi says that not all fevers treated are malaria.
She also said that the programme of distributing long lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets to households has started in all districts in the country and will last six months.
The Executive Director Malaria Consortium Godfrey Magumba, says that in a bid to reduce Malaria deaths in the country, the Ministry has started implementing the Malaria Action Programme in endemic districts. He explains that through the programme, health workers will be trained on malaria diagnosis and control.
Magumba also asked health authorities in districts which have a high burden of malaria to promote the use of injectable artesunate instead of quinine as the preferred treatment for malaria by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Uganda ranks sixth among African countries with high malaria-related mortality rates, and has one of the highest reported malaria transmission rates in the world.
The WHO reports that globally malaria is a major cause of ill-health and deaths, with approximately 16 million cases and over 10,500 deaths reported last year.
World Malaria Day was established by WHO Member States as an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and control. This year's theme was "End Malaria for good - Children up against Malaria"
