Uganda: Malaria Kills 48

from All Africa

New Vision (Kampala)

John Nzinjah
Kampala

Malaria killed 48 people between November and December last year in Kasese district.

According to a report by the health department, 51,058 cases of malaria were recorded in the district in two months.

The majority of the deaths occurred at Kilembe Hospital, where 14 people died.

Most of the victims included children and expectant mothers.

The hospital also had the highest number of admissions and the wards were crowded.

The rampant malaria cases were attributed to the low use of mosquito nets in homes.

The report stated that some family heads cannot afford to buy them, while others are negligent.

A medical officer based at Bishop Masereka Foundation Health Centre in Kasese town, Milton Bakulirahi, attributed the malaria epidemic to poverty.

"Many people cannot afford to buy mosquito nets for every person in their homes even when the prices are lowered," Bakulirahi said.

The majority of the LCs claim that at least two to three people suffer from fever in every home.

The report revealed that there was a drastic drop in cholera cases.