Join the Fight: Creating a Malaria-Free Uganda with the Lions Clubs of Uganda and Deputy Speaker of Parliament

Malaria is the leading cause of ill health/morbidity in Uganda and is responsible for up to 40% of all outpatients’ visits, 20% of all hospital admissions, and 10% of all hospital deaths. It costs a family at least 32,000(US$9) per episode of malaria. 95% of the Ugandan population is at risk, with Malaria killing between 70,000 and 100,000 children yearly.  Uganda’s high malaria rates disproportionately affect infants and pregnant women in rural areas who experience extreme poverty, limited access to health care services, and lack of awareness.

However, hope is on the horizon with the upcoming Walk against Malaria on 23rd April 2023. This revolutionary event will be led by the Deputy Speaker of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, and aims to raise awareness and highlight the need for better political intervention to prevent and control malaria.

The Lions Clubs of Uganda, part of the Lions Club International Association, will be joining in the walk against Malaria to show their support and help raise awareness. As Lion Professor Lawrence Mugisha, President of Lions Club of Kampala Central stated, “Where there is a Need, there is a LION.” The Lions Club identifies humanitarian causes that affect our communities and responds to the identified cause together with different partners, and this year they have identified malaria as a public health problem in Uganda and have joined the fight to eliminate malaria in Uganda.

The Walk Against Malaria is a one-of-a-kind event in the Pearl of Africa, a country that has been greatly affected by malaria. So many have suffered and died because of this disease, and it’s time for us to take a stand and make a difference. It’s not just the responsibility of the government or healthcare professionals – we all have a role to play.

The Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Malaria (UPFM) campaign “A Malaria Free Constituency is My Responsibility” underscores the importance of community involvement in the fight against malaria. It’s not enough to simply wait for political intervention or for healthcare workers to provide treatment. We must all speak up and get involved in this fight.

Zero Malaria Starts with You! We encourage everyone to participate in the Walk against Malaria on 23rd April 2023 and help raise awareness for this important cause. Let’s follow the lead of Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa and the Lions Clubs of Uganda, and work towards a malaria-free future.