Serere District receives 4,380 Bales of Mosquito Nets to Fight Rising Malaria Cases.

By Peterson Hiirya.

Serere — Serere District Local Government has received 4,380 bales of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, each bale containing 50 nets, donated by the Government of Uganda with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to strengthen efforts to combat malaria in the district.

The mosquito nets were officially flagged off for distribution to all sub-counties across Serere District in a ceremony aimed at boosting malaria prevention in one of the country’s high-burden areas.

On behalf of the District Health Officer Thomas Eretu, the District Health Educator presided over the flag-off event and called on health workers and community leaders to ensure the nets reach households in every sub-county.

Health officials emphasized that the distribution is part of the national malaria prevention campaign led by the Ministry of Health Uganda, which focuses on increasing household access to insecticide-treated mosquito nets

Under the government’s mass distribution strategy, mosquito nets are typically provided at a ratio of one net for every two people in a household. Residents are encouraged to register through their Village Health Teams (VHTs) or Local Council I leaders to ensure proper allocation and coverage.

Serere District has recently experienced a surge in malaria cases, with health surveillance reports placing the district among those with the highest malaria test positivity rates in the country, reaching about 63.7 percent in recent epidemiological reports.

Health facilities, including Serere Health Centre IV, have reported heavy outpatient attendance due to malaria-related illnesses.

According to health authorities, the high malaria burden is partly linked to heavy rains and increased mosquito breeding sites, which have contributed to the rise in infections.

Officials say the newly delivered insecticide-treated mosquito nets are expected to play a critical role in reducing malaria transmission in the district.

Serere District Secretary  Finance Linos Opio urged residents to use the mosquito nets consistently every night and support community efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding areas.

Opio believes that proper use of the newly distributed nets, alongside improved surveillance and treatment, will significantly reduce malaria cases in Serere District.