Tayebwa Decries Malaria Burden On Economy
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has expressed a need for the government to invest heavily in Malaria control interventions to save the hemorrhage of Shs2.4 trillion which is lost per year due to the effects of Malaria on the economy.
Tayebwa was officiating as a chief walker at the Walk Against Malaria which was organized by the Parliamentary Forum on Malaria ahead of World Malaria Day on April 25.
As the world commemorates World Malaria Day on Tuesday, the Parliament of Uganda, the Ministry of Health, Civil society organizations, and other anti-malaria activists have joined together in the Walk Against Malaria organized by the Parliamentary Forum on Malaria led by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa to raise awareness on the disease that claims over 50 Ugandans every day.
In his address, Tayebwa remarked that malaria does not only cost Uganda’s lives but the economy too as an estimated Shs2.4 trillion is lost annually in effects of Malaria. It’s at this point that Tayebwa emphasized a need to invest heavily in Malaria by the government to save money lost in treatment and other interventions.
Tayebwa rallied fellow legislators to use the ongoing budgeting process to appropriate more funds for malaria fight interventions. He however urged the government to promote other protection interventions like mosquito repellant plants around people’s homesteads.
According to Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze the Director in charge of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, Uganda is the third most malaria-burdened country in the world with West Nile, Karamoja, and Busoga sub-regions leading in Malaria upsurge. The Ministry of Health figures indicate that 34% of people in Karamoja have Malaria, in West Nile 22% and 22% in Busoga
He disclosed that the ministry plans to distribute mosquito nets across the country, starting with the 17 districts that have recorded the most cases of Malaria.
Experts from civil society organizations underscored the need for such walks to amplify public awareness and advocacy for Malaria.
