Local NGO Calls on Stakeholders to Join Fight against Malaria

By Elijah Khisa

Children’s Voices Against Malaria (CVAM)   an initiative, founded   by the Kinua Foundation has called upon all stakeholders in Uganda to join hands in the final fight to eradicate malaria.

 Echoed through the children they support led by Kwagala Nowera from Briton Junior school CVAM during the 5KM walk from Parliament to Wandegeya, they lamented to all stakeholders to join and be part of the obligation in fighting malaria out of the country.

CVAM was founded on the belief that children have the power to drive meaningful change. It is dedicated to advocating for the rights of children and raising awareness about the devastating impact of malaria and other infectious diseases on communities around the world.

CVAM’s core mandate is to amplify the voices of children and empower them to become agents of change in the fight against malaria. The organization’s multifaceted approach encompasses advocacy initiatives, community-based interventions, and strategic partnerships, all with the goal of fostering a world where no child succumbs to the ravages of malaria and other infectious diseases.

The organization aspires to nurture a generation of empowered and resilient young advocates who will drive progress in the global effort to eradicate malaria.

 The walk was a children led initiative under their Children Voices Against Malaria (CVAM) Initiative, with an attendance of more than 1000 people including Ministers, parliamentarians, the Indian, Chinese and Somali communities, vendors of St. Balikuddembe market, malaria implementing partners, Kinua Foundation, Micro-haem a local manufacturer of diagnostic tools, BNI, business owners, Malaria Focused schools of Brighton junior Academy, cornerstone and Asifiwe.

CVAM is an initiative by Kinua Foundation, anchored in the parliament of Uganda and Ministry of Health and within it is partnering with schools across the country.

“Through schools we have trained children to become agents of change in the fight against malaria and we call them Children Malaria Ambassadors”. Revealed one of the top leaderships at CVAM.

CVAM has been at the forefront of the Walk against Malaria and at the Walk they  had over 250 children all part of the fight against Malaria.

The deputy speaker of parliament Thomas Tayebwa who was the chief walker also added voices to the children’s lamentations and challenged stakeholders to come up openly in the fight against the Malaria burden in the country, lobby the government for an increase in budgetary allocation to the sector.

 During this years’ event organised by Uganda parliamentary Forum (UPFM) parliament parking bay dozens of school children recited poems and songs dedicated to eliminating Malaria in the country.  

Tayebwa who flagged off the 3^rd Malaria Walk reassured the stakeholders that Uganda can achieve a Malaria free generation once stakeholders are mobilized to carry out coordinated messages of fighting Malaria.

Tayebwa who doubles as the patron of the UPFM said parents need to embrace the new Malaria vaccine by taking their children for immunization as this would effectively cut the disease burden downwards.

The chairperson of the Uganda parliamentary forum on Malaria Hon.Batuwa Timothy also MP for Jinja West commended the stakeholders that turned up for the walk saying the forum was committed to ensuring that it engages stakeholders to jointly lobby government to increase on the budget for the Malaria fight.

Members of the development partners made resounding pledges to stand with the government of Uganda in her efforts of fighting to eradicate Malaria from the communities.

The director Public health at the ministry of health Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze separately told this The Second Opinion Publications  that  Malaria remains a serious public health problem in Uganda, accounting for 4% of the global malaria cases.

Malaria is endemic in nearly all of Uganda where it is responsible for 30-50% of outpatient visits, 15-20% of hospital admissions and up to 20% of inpatient deaths. Despite this heavy burden, significant progress has been made over the recent past due to the substantial investment in malaria control. Reported malaria cases declined nearly 45% from about 16 million in 2013 to 8.820 Million  in 2016, with parasite prevalence in children.