The National Malaria Control Disease (NMCD) programme of the Ministry of Health has embarked on preparations for this year’s Malaria Day. The International Malaria Day is set to be marked on April 25 but the Uganda commemoration is scheduled for the first week of May and a detailed programme of the day will be shared by the Ministry of Health in due course.   

The run-up to the Malaria Day will involve a range of activities in the month of April. Among the planned activities is the Scientific Colloquium-an arena for intellectual gymnastics where more often than not, recommendations therefrom make policy advisory to the ministry in the management of malaria as a disease, the mosquito as a malaria vector, the environment as well as behavioral change for communities towards the elimination of the number one cause of morbidity and mortality in the country.

According to the organisers, the World Malaria Day Scientific Colloquium provides an opportunity for scientists, academicians, policy makers and other malaria key stakeholders to engage in discussions accruing from local and external malaria research.

Since 2019, Uganda has experienced malaria epidemics in more that 50% of its districts, with severe malaria cases presenting with increasingly rare signs and symptoms such as severe anemia, bloody urine and acute kidney injury among others. Addressing these developments calls for bringing together doctors, nurses, allied professionals, scientists, IPs and political leadership to critically analyze issues and give plausible recommendations on the next steps.

The colloquium will involve an exhibition by pharmaceutical and other companies that are engaged in the manufacture and or assembling of malaria commodities among other things. Research organizations and academia will equally showcase their works. The Colloquium is expected to held between the 23rd-24th of April.

This year’s global theme is: “Time to deliver zero malaria: Invest, Innovate, Implement” to which Uganda has adopted, “Getting back on track through investment” as a slogan.