“In this regard, in collaboration with the Roll Back Malaria initiative, we have developed the Comprehensive Malaria Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.” The Plan was launched last month. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative, Mr. Keith McKenzie, said that despite laudable efforts in the distribution and coverage of Insecticide Treated Nets, there was still a need for a rapid, national acceleration in the use of ITNs in order to meet the National Malaria Control Strategy target of 85 percent of households owning at least one net by the year 2010.

“Distributing mosquito nets does not prevent malaria. Using them does,” said McKenzie.

Endemic in 95 percent of Uganda, malaria causes close to 15 percent of all in-patient deaths countrywide. Children under five, who comprise 22 percent of the national population, are the most vulnerable. On average, children in Uganda experience five episodes of malaria per year. The disease is also a significant contributor to miscarriages and low-birth weight. The theme of this year's World Malaria Day is “Counting Malaria Out”. It is intended to intensify a campaign that engages partners in a comprehensive effort to count and quantify the progress and impact of interventions in the fight against malaria. Government pledges action The national commemoration event was in Palisa district and was presided over by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Cooperation, Honorable Eriya Kategaya who represented the Vice President. In his speech he called on the Ministry of Health to vigorously educate people about malaria prevention noting that this day should also be used to account to the people what has been done to fight the disease in the country.

Honorable Kategaya pledged government’s readiness to intensify the fight malaria through availing curative drugs, implementation of the Home-based Management of Fever strategy, distribution of insecticide treated bed nets and treatment of malaria in pregnancy. Other strategies to be intensified are Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) using DDT and advising people on good nutrition, personal hygiene and appropriate environmental sanitation. There were several exhibition by organizations that are active in the treatment, prevention and control of malaria in Uganda and were all inspected by the guest of honour. The function was attended by government ministers, senior Ministry of Health officers, NGO representative and members of the general public.