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Health
Health still remains a big challenge in Uganda as evidenced by high morbidity and mortality rates. Though Uganda has made a significant improvement on the health of children through Universal immunization against the six killer diseases, malaria and HIV/AIDS still take lead in claiming many lives especially among children.
Malaria
Malaria is highly endemic in most parts of Uganda with 63% of the population of 26.9 million (2005) exposed to high and 25% to moderate malaria transmission levels while 12% live in areas with low or unstable transmission which are epidermic prone. The burden of malaria is still high with estimated 70-100,000 deaths per year among children under 5 years of age and between 10 and 12 million clinical cases treated in public health system alone. Children contribute to the largest part of malaria related mortality (25%-30% of under 5). Up to 22% of low birth weight in newborns is attributed to malaria (high endemicity) while abortions are the most important negative outcome in low endemicity areas.
Despite of this malaria still remains highly preventable and curable. Many developed countries such United States, Europe among other eradicated malaria many years. And it is disturbing to see how malaria kills 320 people everyday in Uganda and the world seems not bothered! We know what can help our people from dying to a disease that can be prevented.
Yes mosquito nets are good in reducing mosquito human contact but they are not 100% effective. We need LLITNs, laviciding, cleaning breeding grounds, quick and effective system of case management, better drugs such as ACTs but we also need IRS using all other chemical approved by WHO including DDT.
The loss caused by malaria is enormous and we need to employ all the weapons to fight the disease. DDT has a triple effect than any other insecticide approved for IRS, it is repellency, toxicity and irritability to mosquitoes will help keep mosquitoes out of the home for close to year.
Combining DDT use in IRS with LLITNs, education, laviciding and all other menthods malaria will be a history in Africa and children will not die and income of the poor will increase.
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Joy for Children Uganda
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P.O Box 15383
Kampala (Uganda)
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Telephone:
+256 414 530 450
+256 414 380 417
+256 712 982 301
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Email:
info@joyforchildren.org
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