Reducing the Burden of Malaria in Uganda: A Vital Discussion with the Health Minister

In a bid to reduce the burden of malaria on the citizens of Uganda, the Malaria Consortium’s team in Uganda, led by Chief Executive Dr James Tibenderana, engaged in crucial discussions with Uganda’s Ministry of Health this week. The focus of the discussions was on partnership approaches to accelerate progress towards eliminating malaria in the country.

Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Acheng met with Dr Godfrey Magumba, the East & Southern Africa Programmes Director for Malaria Consortium, and Dr Tibenderana to explore the introduction of new malaria preventative measures. These measures include seasonal and perennial malaria chemoprevention, the introduction of the malaria vaccine, and the development of a new elimination strategy.

Dr Acheng expressed her enthusiasm for developing a new malaria strategy that shifts the focus from reduction to elimination and eradication. She emphasized the importance of strong political support in this endeavor and stated, “With the strong political support from the president and parliament, now is the ideal time to develop and implement a robust malaria elimination and eradication strategy. We are eager to begin this vital work immediately.”

The discussions come in the wake of the World Health Organization’s report of 12.7 million malaria cases and over 17,556 estimated deaths in Uganda in 2022. Dr Tibenderana highlighted the significant impact of malaria reduction on both public health and Uganda’s economy, noting that every 10 percent reduction in malaria burden leads to an approximate 0.3 percent increase in GDP growth.

These discussions underscore the critical value of strategic partnerships and collaborations in tackling malaria. Dr Tibenderana emphasized the need for diverse partnerships and collective expertise to fully address the complexity of the challenge and work towards malaria elimination in Uganda.