Leaders in Gulu district are demanding that the government should immediately embark on an emergency Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) in a bid to reduce the current high cases of Malaria.
The most affected areas are Ongako, Bar- Dege and Lakwana.
Mr Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the District LCV Chairperson says the government should reconsider reintroducing the spray exercise so that the current trend is reduced.
Mapenduzi noted that with current workload, the health workers may not be able to contain the situation if the trend continues.
The LCV Chairperson insists that the Ministry of Health should consider the demand of Gulu as a priority since is it is the heavily hit district compared to other ten districts.
He says, “If need be, we will engage the office of the President so that the matter is resolved.”
The District Council Speaker, Mr Douglas Peter Okello says they will not stop advocating for indoor residual spray despite the government’s argument that the exercise is too expensive because the lives of expectant mothers and children under 5 (U5) are the ones at risk.
The latest figure released by the District Health Department on Monday last week indicates that since April this year, at least 76, 904 patients have been diagnosed with malaria at different health facilities.
At the same period, a total of 3,698 were admitted with severe malaria cases with 62 cases of deaths recorded.
According to Dr. Robert Ongom, the acting District Health Officer (DHO), the cumulative figures are from Outpatient Departments alone.
Dr. Ongom says, “Every week, there are up to 11, 000 patients who seek treatment at the health facilities.”
“The number is overwhelming since a single health worker is handling more malaria patients, 12 times more what they were handling before the epidemic were reported,” He noted.
The DHO suggested that a combination of interventions such as consistent use of insecticide treated mosquito nets, clearing bushes and IRS may interrupt the current challenge facing already the overwhelmed health staff.
The District Health Department officials argue that as part of the National Malaria Strategic reduction plan, IRS has proved effective in the last three years can be effective.
2013 performance report by Gulu district health department indicates that Malaria has reduced from 69 percent in 2009 to 9 percent in 2013 due to the IRS project under the Ministry of Health, the Malaria control program.
However, during a meeting held at Lacor hospital last week, the Director of health services in the Ministry of Health, Dr Ruth Aceng said government does not have money to carry out Indoor Residual Spray.
“Shs2 billion is needed for each district in the region for IRS spraying per month. The entire region needs Shs24 billion which the government doesn’t have currently,”
“Government just spent over Shs200 billion in the recent distribution of mosquito nets. Government will continue to do this and also provide drugs,” She added.
She noted that there is need for people to learn to use the mosquito nets properly
4 Comments
The main thing with malaria is to close their breading grounds normally potholes should be filled as soon as possible. Spraying households with chemicals may cause people to develop other diseases as well which could be worse. There should be weekly out-door exercise conducted to close breading grounds – tarmac all the paths around the district, repair drainage to avoid collection of water, etc. That could be jobs for the youth who are now doing nothing but gambling.
So many diseases have risen with no medical research to explain and combat the sources. For instance diabetes, high-blood pressure, cancers, nodding disease etc. How can the district officers continue spraying chemicals as if nothing is happening.
First of all, the sodas being sold around have too much sugar and gas which according to research can contribute to diabetes, high blood pressure etc. Public health officials should monitor the production, consumption of these drinks. The sodas should all have labelling showing amount of ingredients. There should be a testing center which can grab these drinks randomly and check them for public health reasons (that is another job opportunity).
With the drugs being sprayed for malaria – there are already so much research published in these areas for guidance. Some of those chemicals have already been banned in other countries therefore there should not be any reason why such chemicals should be used in Africa.
This spray issue was dealt with sometimes ago, the leaders/people in position of authority are in amnesia, they see; think; reason from hand to mouth only. They are blind to logic and surely will not ask the questions to get logical answers. These sprays are heavily toxics and it is by design not accident. Who are releasing these infested mosquitoes in the environment? Why are people not using traditional medicine for malaria which are very effective, because they do not know it and those who know regard it as Satanic/impure according to religion as if satan has ever created any herbs/plant/vegetation.
The mosquito spraying can work if the chemical is none toxic and it’s affective. But the truth is that the chemical being use in the Northern Uganda are trial research chemicals. The Northerners are guinue pigs.
At one time when I was in uganda, an lc 1 was telling people that every household must be sprayed and if anybody rejects it then they’ll have to pay 30,000 fine. This made me personally announced to him that my families home will not be spread for three reasons; 1 we have few kids and adults who are asthmatic in the family 2 the chemicals are toxic with no warning of side effects and 3, why is that its has been four years of spraying but malaria is getting worse and complex with illusionations and fitting attacks? And always immediately after spraying homes the hospitals get overwhelmed with chest infections both in adults and children? Anyway i aske him to give me the fine of 90,000 with a government receipts but he declined and never came back. After two weeks, the clinic behind my house couldn’t cope with the chest infection and malaria patients but none from my thee families home suffers any aiment the entire two and halve months i was there. And seven months later touch wood i haven’t heard any bad news from my family. Use net and make sure there’s no stagnant water. Fan and burning incense stick helps a lot.
Omyero Acoli gucak yubbo yadi Acoli ducu kit ma lu Caina gitimo ni meno ryeko ma megwa ma twero dongo wan. Pe myero kilok nying yadi Acoli i leb ma woko ci lurok cere ni meno yadigi. Wa dini myero kibwot dini pa lurok pien gitye kabango dano abanga dok gicoko lim gidwoko cen i lobo tuggi. In itamo ni jo ma gubino kacatto dini pe gin lukwor? Gin gunongo ni dano dong tye ki ngec ento gubwolo dano wek kiwor cal pa wongi ki cal pa mingi. Meno anywar matye ka timme.