Malaria: USAID to institute new study into rising infections

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The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)  says they will conduct a study to understand what's behind the dramatic rise in malaria cases in Uganda.

Incoming USAID Uganda mission director Daniele Nyirandutiye says while they recognise the impact climate change is having on overall infections, outcomes of the new study will help them understand "how we can improve the tools we have at our disposal to fight and prevent malaria in Uganda".

Daniele Nyirandutiye, USAID Uganda mission director addresses journalists as Steven Reynolds, National Institute of Health in Uganda Director looks on during a press briefing about US Government assistance in the health sector at the American Center in Kampala on April 30, 2024. (Photo by Juliet Kasirye)

She was speaking during a media engagement with health reporters at the American Centre in Kabalagala in Kampala on Tuesday, April 30.

The event was convened by US ambassador to Uganda William Popp in a bid to give an update about his government’s status of assistance in the Uganda health sector.

High disease burden 

Uganda is also the third highest contributor of malaria cases (5.4%) and 7th highest contributor of malaria deaths globally (2.9%) registering up to 12 million cases and 5,000 deaths annually.

The most affected populations include children under five years, pregnant women, people with immune deficiency conditions, rural and hard-to-reach populations, and more recently children aged five years to 15 years, according to the health ministry.

The health ministry said last month that despite the progress made in malaria control, in 2021 through 2023, the country experienced a generalised increase in malaria cases, with some areas surpassing the epidemic thresholds.

At the peak of the epidemic in July 2022, over 75 districts were reported as having a malaria epidemic, pushing the demand for anti-malarial drugs and other commodities through the roof. 

According to the World Health Organisation, economic loss in Uganda due to malaria annually is over $500 million (about shillings 19 trillion).

The US is one of Uganda's key development partners, contributing an estimated $550m (shillings 2.1 trillion) most of which goes into the health sector according to the embassy.

Other infections

Speaking during the same event, Dr Amy Boore, the programme director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said through a partnership between Uganda and the US on disease control, they have been able to blunt the threat of emerging diseases.

She said through a collaboration between the Uganda Wildlife Authority, they have for years been tracking wildlife and bats to ensure no disease (zoonotic), which can easily spread from animals to humans, break out and become a serious health threat.

She added that CDC helped Uganda establish a laboratory in Arua district that can diagnose anthrax and plague.

Boore said through the programme and others working with traditional healers, they have helped Uganda eliminate plague and other endemic diseases in 2015.

"We continue to support the lab and surveillance programmes to make sure that no plague comes into the country from other countries," she said.

Acording to Boore, they have supported a program that has ensured the increase in the number of accredited labs in Uganda. This has been done by helping the country create its laboratory accreditation service.

"Uganda, therefore, no longer has to rely on and wait for laboratory accreditation to be done by others such as the South African Accreditation Board," she said.