The governments of Uganda and Egypt have signed a memorandum of Understanding to set up productions units of mosquito larvicides (pesticides that kill mosquito larvae) in the country.
While signing the MOU at Ministry of Health headquarters in Kampala on Thursday, minister Jane Ruth Aceng said this move is intended to reduce the rate at which Malaria is spreading in Uganda.
The health minister added that production of larvicides in Uganda will save over 15 million people and also reduce the budget burdens which government has been incurring while importing larvicides and other related mosquito pestcides.
“This agreement will cover major areas in cooperation mostly setting up local production units to start producing larvicides and other public health products. This will increase government’s capacity to cover all districts since budget will be reduced,” said Dr Aceng,”
Malaria in Uganda is the leading, most widespread and serious communicable diseases. It is also the major public health problem where approximately 95 per cent of Uganda is endemic. The remaining five per cent is prone to malaria epidemics and these are mainly Highland areas of South-west Uganda, the Rwenzori and Elgon Mountain ranges.
However Aceng said the signed MOU will promote Integrated Vector Management (a rational decision-making process for the optimal use of resources for vector control)approach to complement the existing interventions in reductions of Malaria transmission.
She added that through this agreement, the Larval Source management programme is expected to start from Northern and Western Regions in 2019/2020 protecting over 15 million Ugandans and will be phased to cover the whole country within three years.
Ambassador Tereke Sallam, who represented Egyptian government said Uganda has achieved great results ever since 2009, when the two countries embarked on fighting Malaria together with the help of the Inrad Company, an Egyptian medical company.
“We hope that by signing today’s accord, we have made another great step in fighting Malaria to save lives of Ugandan as a goal set by Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uganda under the directive of H.E president Museveni,” said Amb. Sallam.
Adding: “Egyptian government is committed to offer more help to Uganda’ s health sector either by sending medical convoys, establishing and Egyptian clinic or other form of health help suitable to Uganda.”
According to Dr Aceng, this cooperation came under mutual agreements following meetings between the Presidents of Uganda and Egypt – Yoweri Museveni and AbdulFatah Sisi.
Among other privileges entitled in this MOU, Uganda’s young scientists will receive sponsorship and grants, and will attain industrial capacity building and technology transfer activities.
It also has a donation of mosquito pesticides, which are right now on shipping to Uganda from Egypt. According to Dr. Jimmy Opigo -Programme Manager Malaria Control Programme from Ministry of Health, the mosquito drugs and pesticides on shipping will cater for Kigezi region in the coming short period.
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