Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Asen said the Chinese assortment of anti-malarial drugs worth more than Sh4 billion would help the country fight malaria, which remains at high risk.
“We are a country with a high risk of malaria due to our climatic conditions.Uganda is also the country with the third highest number of malaria infections (5.4%) and seventh highest number of malaria deaths (2.9%) in the world. It causes up to 12 million infections and 5,000 deaths annually. The most affected populations include children under 5, pregnant women, immunocompromised people, and rural and hard-to-reach areas. people, and more recently children between the ages of 5 and 15,” she said.
Achieng made the remarks on Friday at the National Medical Store (NMS) headquarters in Kajjansi while receiving an assortment of Chinese-backed anti-malarial drugs from the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, Zhang Lizhong.
“Despite progress made in malaria control, there was a general increase in malaria cases in the country from 2021 to 2023, exceeding epidemic thresholds in some regions. At the peak of the epidemic in July 2022, , more than 75 districts reported malaria epidemics. As a result, demand for antimalarial drugs and other goods increased, with some districts requiring up to four times more than previously quantified goods. “There were some areas where it did,” she said.
Aseng said that through the Chinese Embassy in Uganda, he has requested the Chinese government to provide various anti-malarial drugs to support the response to the malaria epidemic.
In February, China’s ambassador to Uganda, Zhang Lizhong, said that approximately 500,000 packs and doses of anti-malarial drugs worth US$1.1 million (approximately Sh4.2 billion) were delivered to Uganda in quick response to the Ugandan government’s urgent request. Ta. To deal with the increase in malaria cases last year.
“Cooperation in the health field is one of the most important areas in our bilateral relations. During the years of the pandemic, China has worked closely with Uganda to fight the pandemic by providing vaccines and supplies on time. I fought,” he said.
Zhang said China will help Uganda establish a platform to connect data between hospitals and achieve the digitization of medical information in the country.
“Both sides have the potential to collaborate to develop the digitalization of Uganda’s healthcare infrastructure. Both sides have a long history of herbal farms and herbal medicine. There is a possibility of developing and selling herbal medicines and achieving win-win cooperation.”
NMS Board Chairman Jotam Musinguzi called on the Ministry of Finance to support the Ministry of Health by promoting the cultivation of artemisinin plants by farmers and businessmen as a step towards fighting malaria in the country.
“This plant is very effective, the Chinese have been using it for a very long time, and there is no problem with it being resistant to malaria. Not only will we receive this medicine for Uganda, we will also provide treatment. “We want to encourage them to do that, and we’re looking at ways in which we can partner with China to utilize that particular plant,” he said.
Finance Minister Matia Kasaija said rampant drug theft in government hospitals must be addressed by arresting and convicting the culprits to ensure adequate drug supply to Ugandans.
