Malaria Prevention and Control Programme

Today, malaria is responsible for more illness and death than any other single disease in Uganda.
While those with low immunity- pregnant women, children under five years and people living with
HIV/AIDS- are particularly vulnerable, all people living in Uganda are at risk of being infected with
malaria parasites and suffering from resulting illness. In most parts of Uganda, temperature and
rainfall are sufficient to allow a stable, year round (perennial) malaria transmission at high levels with
relatively little seasonal variability. While tremendous progress has been made in the fight against
malaria through the improvement of health system performance and increased public knowledge
about malaria, increasing resistance to commonly used treatments is presenting new challenges to
malaria control. JUHI main intervention strategies include:
a) Diagnosis and Case management
JUHI stresses the importance of increased public knowledge and awareness of the signs and
symptoms of malaria, and prompt access to effective treatment. The two main components of the
malaria treatment strategy are:
1. Facility Based Malaria Case Management and,
2. Home-Based Management of Fever (HBMF)
b) Vector control.
The control of malaria vectors remains one of the main malaria control strategies in Uganda. The
Malaria Control Programme supports two primary interventions within this strategy: promoting and
increasing the use of insecticide treated nets (ITNs) and increasing the prevalence of indoor residual
spraying (IRS)
c) Intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy.
Malaria in pregnancy continues to be a serious health risk for pregnant women in Uganda and is
associated with increased risk for maternal anaemia and perinatal mortality. Isolated studies show
that the prevalence of placental infection with Plasmodium falciparum malaria in pregnant women
can be as high as 62.1% in some areas (Ndyomugyenyi et al, 1999). Although all pregnant women
may be at risk of malaria, its complications are greatest in those with modified immunity such as
primigravidae, secundigravidae, adolescents, immigrants/visitors from non-endemic areas and those
infected with HIV. JUHI’s Malaria Control Programme is committed to controlling malaria in
pregnancy through the Minimum Health Care Package. The three key components of the strategy
are: intermittent preventive treatment (IPT), early diagnosis and prompt case management, and
consistent insecticide treated net use for expectant mothers before, during, and after pregnancy
Other strategies for malaria control are
d) IEC and Social Mobilization.
e) Monitoring and Evaluation and Research