Doctors and health experts have raised fresh concerns over a troubling rise in emerging malaria cases across Uganda, which have reportedly resulted in several fatalities, particularly among school-going children.
The surge has prompted health officials to urge parents, school administrations, and local communities to heighten vigilance, seek early diagnosis and treatment, and aggressively reinforce preventive measures to curb further spread.
Speaking during a symposium on malaria eradication organized by C-Care at the Four Points by Sheraton in Kampala, Dr Catherine Maiteki Sebuguzi, the Deputy Programme Manager in the Malaria Elimination Division at the Ministry of Health, revealed that the country is grappling with increasingly resilient mosquito populations and mutating strains.
“Parasites are becoming more difficult to detect, and sometimes it is even challenging to identify certain strains. Doctors, therefore, need to employ multiple approaches when diagnosing malaria,” Dr Maiteki explained.
She noted that part of the current mortality burden stems from delayed care-seeking within communities, emphasizing that individuals must present for testing immediately after developing symptoms so health workers can establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe appropriate regimens.
To counter these challenges, Dr Maiteki stated that the Ministry of Health is actively strengthening the clinical management of both uncomplicated and severe malaria, enhancing mortality surveillance, and utilizing real-time health data to target interventions. She emphasized that while the burden is high, elimination remains achievable through sustained political commitment and robust community reporting.
Uganda continues to rank among the hardest-hit nations globally. According to World Health Organization estimates, the country accounts for approximately 4.8 percent of global malaria cases, ranking third worldwide. Data from the Uganda Malaria Indicator Survey further underscores the escalating threat, showing that malaria prevalence among children aged between six and 59 months has jumped to 13 percent, up from 10 percent in previous evaluations.
Addressing the vulnerability of learners, Dr Jane Achan, Principal Advisor and Senior Scientist at the Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration Uganda, called for targeted interventions within educational institutions. She noted that many children remain inadequately protected and urged schools to empower their nursing staff to conduct proper health assessments and facilitate timely care.
“Before you take your child to school, please ensure that they have undergone a medical check-up and always prioritize their health,” Dr Achan advised, while also pushing for direct referral linkages between schools and neighboring health facilities to manage emergency cases swiftly.
Reinforcing the need for precision in clinical care, Dr Pritch Kabata Kagera, a laboratory specialist, urged health practitioners to closely monitor severe malaria cases to avoid rapid deterioration. He highlighted that proper management requires regular tracking of vital signs, consciousness levels using coma scores, and urine output alongside prompt parasite clearance.
“Please make every effort to obtain accurate clinical observations because laboratory results provide an important basis for guiding treatment and the appropriate administration of medicines to patients,” Dr Kagera said.
In light of these developments, the Ministry of Health maintains that a coordinated response across government agencies, health practitioners, schools, and local leaders remains the country's most effective defense against the disease.
