Potholes on Gulu roads spreading malaria – health official says

By Norine Kazombo

Gulu District health officials have urged road constructors in the district to make it a responsibility by covering holes along the roads they have constructed.

Yoweri Idiba – the acting district health officer said in most circumstances constructors of roads in the district tend to dig down holes but fail to cover it up after the completion of their work.

He added that, “Such practices are always spreading malaria as it turns into be breeding places for mosquitoes.”

This concern was raised during the quarterly health meetings from the Gulu district health board room on Thursday.

Susan Aber, a health worker working with malaria consortium said the ministry of health is coming up with an initiative – mass action against malaria, adding that malaria is still present and killing people more than HIV/AIDs.

She urged that households should take responsibility in testing for malaria as soon as possible once they started experiencing the symptoms.

William Oyanyi, the District Health Educator said: “Our aim as Gulu district is to end malaria by 2030; there should be no more malaria.”

“I appreciate the efforts of malaria consortium upon their tremendous work in fighting malaria sickness in the district,” he added.

In Gulu district, malaria is the leading killer disease among children <5 years.

In 2015, the high intensity of malaria infection in Northern Uganda revealed a possible link between malaria and rainfall

According to Malaria Research and Treatment Report 2018, 15 countries mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa, it shows there was 80% of malaria cases and 78% of malaria related deaths.

In Uganda, malaria is endemic due to significant negative impact on the economy [budget to treat malaria] and rainfall.