The State Minister of Health in charge of General Duties Hon. Sarah Opendi has ordered the Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) to start arresting people found misusing government provided mosquito nets.
The minister said with the ongoing nationwide distribution of insecticide treated nets, the ministry doesn’t want to hear reports of nets going to waste.
Opendi while presiding over the International Malaria Day celebrations in Fort Portal municipality, made reference to cases where mosquito nets have been turned into fishing nets, building materials and at times sewn into wedding gowns.
Minister Opendi revealed that although the malaria prevalence has declined, it is still the greatest killer disease in the country and Uganda is still ranked 6th in Africa in terms of prevalence.
Government has set an ambitious target of ensuring that by 2020, malaria is kicked out of the country.
The minister noted however, that this can only be attained when people fully embrace the campaign which calls for people sleeping under treated mosquito nets, clearing bushes and draining stagnant water near homes, testing and proper treatment of malaria.
At the event, Dr.Richard Mugahi, the DHO Kabarole said in the district, Malaria is highest in the hilly sub counties of Kasenda and Kabende.
On his part, Richard Rwabuhinga, the district chairperson attributed school absenteeism and poor performance partly to diseases like malaria.