Anthony Bugembe
24 November 2008
Kampala — UGANDANS should not expect the fight against malaria to be spearheaded by foreigners, health experts have advised.
"If Americans eradicated mosquitoes, why can't we? There is nothing special with our mosquitoes," said Myers Lugemwa, the acting head of the malaria control programme.
Lugemwa was addressing students at a malaria conference at Hotel Africana in Kampala last Thursday under the theme: Evolving trends in the malaria epidemic.
"It is absurd that some academicians and politicians are opposing the use of DDT for internal residual spraying. If I had my way, I would have charged such people with murder because the country loses 320 lives everyday," Lugemwa said.
He added that Uganda spends over $600m every year on treating malaria.
The health ministry launched indoor residual spraying of DDT in Apac and Oyam districts in February.
But the High Court stopped the exercise following a petition from anti-DDT activists.
Gen. Elly Tumwine, an advocate for the use of DDT, said: "It is unfortunate that all great African leaders have failed to get rid of the female anopheles mosquito, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. We should embrace the use of DDT."
Prof. Moses Kamya from the Faculty of Medicine at Makerere University expressed concern that about half of those who have mosquito nets do not use them.
Makerere University vice-chancellor Prof. Livingstone Luboobi called for emphasis on preventive measures in the fight against malaria.
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