FIGHTING MALARIA

Malaria is the biggest killer in the world. It is also the biggest killer in Uganda. Greater than HIV/AIDS. It leaves more children parentless than anything else. And that is true in Kabubbu.

The Health Centre nurses are carrying out an education programme linked with a welfare programme fighting malaria.

Malaria is debilitating causing the patient to have days of high fever sometimes resulting in death. There may not be a cure but there is a way of fighting malaria and seeking to control the access of mosquitoes to the people.

With the assistance of a grant from UNICEF a major malaria control programme has been started. This features the supply of a mosquito net to every person in Kabubbu, the means to hang it correctly plus a bed and mattress. Why beds and mattresses?

By its nature a mosquito net can only be fully effective if it denies the mosquito any access inside it. When nets were first given to some of the community they hung them up where they slept usually on a pile of rags or straw on the mud floor of their hut. And, of course, the mosquitoes crept under the nets and fed on the sleeping people.

Beds and mattresses are now being supplied. This means the nets can be tucked under the mattresses denying the mosquito any access. We have the beds made by local craftsmen in Kabubbu to minimise cost and provide an income in the community.

We understand the introduction of this process has greatly reduced the incidence of malaria in Kabubbu and are making the concept available to every person in every household.

To Save a Life in Kabubu - click here