Hoima: As the world commemorates World Malaria Day on April 25 every year, Malaria still remains Uganda’s leading cause of death, especially in children.
Today, Western Media for Environment and Conservation (WEMECO), together with its partners AGENDA and Bio Vision Africa, commemorated Earth Day, which happens every year on the 22nd of April, and World Malaria Day, which happens on the 25th of April every year.
Geoffrey Kamese, who works with AGENDA and Biovision Africa, while speaking to reporters in Hoima in a press briefing at the Glory Summit Hotel, unveiled that World Malaria Day is an occasion that needs continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and control.
Kamese says this year’s theme for World Malaria Day 2024 is “Health Equity, Gender, and Human Rights.”.
He explained that Uganda has one of the highest global burdens of malaria causes, with over 90% of the population at risk, saying malaria remains Uganda’s leading cause of death, especially in children.
Kamese disclosed that malaria causes immense detrimental health effects and is responsible for 30 to 50% of outpatient visits and 15 to 20% of hospital admissions, adding that in 2022, WHO reported that there were an estimated 12.7 million malaria cases and over 17,556 estimated deaths in the country.
During the same press briefing, Kamese also exposed that Earth Day, which is celebrated on April 22 every year, is to honor achievements made in the area of the environment and raise awareness of the need to protect Earth’s natural resources for future generations.
He says this year’s theme was “planet versus plastics,” and it aims at raising awareness of the harms of plastic pollution for human and planetary health.
Kamese declares that the Earth Day mission is founded on the premise that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or geography, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment, which is pursued through education, public policy, and activism campaigns.
Peter Akugizibwe Araali, the executive director of Western Media for Environment and Conservation, urged all citizens to play their part in the conservation of the environment and fight against malaria.
Akugizibwe says there is a need for a continuous mass campaign and awareness regarding the dangers of environmental degradation since it goes hand in hand with the malaria spread according to this year’s themes.
Edward Nyakahuma, who also works with Biovision Africa, stated that there is a need to raise awareness about some farming practices, such as the use of chemical pesticides, which contribute to environmental degradation and, at times, illness like cancer.
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