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By Dramadri Federick Arua City Maracha district has registered the first ever lowest prevalence of Malaria following the introduction of the Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS). The district now in the third round of implementing the IRS Program, has seen its Out p
By Dramadri Federick
Arua City
Maracha district has registered the first ever lowest prevalence of Malaria following the introduction of the Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS).
The district now in the third round of implementing the IRS Program, has seen its Out patience Department (OPD) attendance for Malaria reduced to 10% from the 55% of the overall cases seven months.
Draru Jesca Endrea, the Maracha District Health Officer in charge Maternal Child Health revealed that the district’s OPD attendance for Malaria is no longer a worry but encourage communities to continue appreciating and properly utilize other initiatives towards malaria prevention and control.
“We had a total of 168,533 malaria cases but in the previous quarters we have been having a bigger number of over 500,000 malaria cases which means IRS has helped a lot plus other interventions and now when you test at the OPD we are now at 10% average compared to 55% in the previous so have really reduced the cases of Malaria in the communities.”
Richard Malagu the IRS focal person Maracha district says with the concerted efforts of different stakeholders in ensuring quick acceptance of the government program, they were able to achieve more than the national average.
“The district had a target of 68,000 structures to be sprayed, and of which 66,903 structures were sprayed giving a proper coverage of 98% which is above the 85% target by Ministry of Health.”
Dicky Alema the secretary social services Maracha district council is concerned over diversion of malaria patients by the prayer warriors and witches to their shrines and worship places something affecting districts malaria cases.
“There people who still believe that when they go to witch doctors, they can get medication for malaria, I want to warn the perpetrators who pretend to be prayer warriors and those who still call themselves to be doctors and yet they are witches that together with the security team we shall flash them out of the district.”
On the other hand Sunday Dramani the Assistant Resident District Commissioner Maracha has warned members of the public against misuse of insecticide treated mosquito nets terming it a sabotage and a breach of the public health act.
“When you move around, you find there are a lot of people who make this nets to cover their nursery beds, you even find people who are seated by the roadsides making their chairs using these nets, it’s uncalled for and once we get you we shall arrest and charge you.”
With funding support from the Government of Uganda, USAID / Presidents Malaria Initiative and DFID a total of $9M has been committed for the Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) an application of a long-lasting residual insecticide to potential malaria vector resting surfaces to either kill or repel the mosquitoes.