Save Pregnant Women from Malaria in Uganda

Summary of project activities

Malaria is the leading cause of death in Uganda counting for over 27%. Maternal anemia and placental parasitaemia leads to low birth weight, which is an important contributor to infant mortality. Despite interventions of stakeholders, prevention services to mothers is low. Long lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets (LLINs) coverage is still low affecting pregnant mothers who have low immunity. The project will provide free LLINs and malaria tests and treatment to 750 during antenatal clinic.

With financial support we receive from development partners, KADO is involved in LLINs distribution to prevent malaria infection to pregnant mothers and the community at large. This quarterly report clearly shows the progress for the period between July and November, 2017. From April 2017 to date we have distributed a total of 15329 treated mosquito nets to the communities of Iganga, Kaliro, Kibuku, Pallisa, Butaleja, Namutumba, Budaka, and Buyende district. Project activities includes; distribution of treated insecticides mosquito nets, monitoring and evaluation, Community social mobilization and sensitization on malaria control and prevention.

Current Status on prevention of Malaria in Uganda
Malaria control systems is still very poor and weak in the community because there is limited male involvement during awareness campaigns, antenatal visits, community social mobilization, negative attitudes of the community towards government programs like spraying of mosquitoes and distribution of treated mosquito nets.

In the last quarter, the organization managed to implement the following;

1. A total number of 306 pregnant mothers received health education.
2. Procured 321 doses of malaria drugs for 321 lactating and pregnant mothers.
3. Procured malaria test kits from the Ministry of Health and tested 150 pregnant mothers and treated 100 MDRT positive.
4. Procured 900 medium long lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets and 290 pregnant mothers received long lasting insecticides nets.
5. Facilitated home to home visiting for 27 mothers.
6. Monitored and evaluated a total number of 306 pregnant mothers who received health education in the quarter and found out that 84% of them adopted best health practices during pregnancy.

Challenges

In Kibuku district in Uganda, 98% of the community members are subsistence farmers. Malaria is greatly affecting the general population in that women are the major contributor of agricultural production. Malaria exposes a lot of vulnerability to mothers particularly abortion, delivery of children with low weight, death and high expense on treatment that affects the economic base of families. The project will benefit mothers, fathers and the government of Uganda on malaria expenses. The following are some of the challenges met during project implementation;

1. Limited financial resources. KADO is a donor dependent organization and realizes limited profit from its income generating activities. Inadequate money to procure MAMA kits for mothers during their labor period.

1. Poor attitude of the community leaders. Local leaders are silent on dissemination of Malaria prevention messages in public places. They think it is a preserve for health workers.  
2. Inadequate or shortage of testing kits.

Recommendation

we recommend that we lay a rapid action to curb the spread of malaria which is now a threat to most communities in Uganda
Testimony from one beneficiary

This testimony comes from Prosy. Prosy is a mother of one child and she is pregnant. She says, ‘My family could not afford mosquito nets for a long time and her child always suffered from mosquito bites and malaria all the time. Thanks to the Government of Uganda and KADO for mosquito nets for all programme because we now have mosquito nets and know how to use it; this has reduced mosquito bites and malaria at home’.