Soroti: Partners in Fight against Malaria Take on School-Based Approach to Boost IRS Uptake

A new partnership between Pilgrim Africa and Children Voices Against Malaria (CVAM) is seeking to tackle low uptake of Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) by using schools as entry points for community mobilisation in high-risk areas.

The initiative comes amid concerns that resistance to IRS—largely driven by misinformation and limited awareness—continues to undermine malaria control efforts, particularly in regions like Teso where the disease burden remains high.

IRS is one of the Ministry of Health’s primary interventions against malaria, but its success depends heavily on household acceptance.

Under the programme, selected schools, including Siirt Islamic Primary School in Soroti, are being used to anchor sensitisation efforts. Organisers say learners are being equipped with information to influence perceptions about spraying within their homes and communities.

CVAM’s Head of Community Engagement, Geoffrey Mugisha, said the approach focuses on behavioural change at the grassroots. “Children are effective messengers. When they understand the importance of IRS, they carry that message into their households,” he noted.

Public health experts involved in the programme say building trust at community level is critical. Dr Wycliffe Odude, a senior entomologist at Pilgrim Africa, emphasized that scientific interventions must be supported by consistent engagement with the public.

Initial feedback from Soroti indicates improved receptiveness to spraying teams in areas where school outreach has been implemented.

The partners say the model will be extended to other districts as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen malaria prevention strategies.

Uganda continues to rely on IRS as a key component of its malaria control programme, with authorities increasingly turning to community-based approaches to improve coverage and sustain progress.