Malaria: Current Situation and Way Forward

Malaria remains one of the most serious causes of ill health in the world; affecting people in more than 100 countries (World Health Organisation 1993). WHO estimates that the global incidence is between 300-500 million cares annually and this results in 1.5-2.7 million deaths. Nearly 25of all childhood deaths in Africa and half of the fever episodes in African children are attributable to malaria (WHO/CTD 1996). In Uganda; malaria has remained the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The proportional morbidity attributable to malaria has been on the increase in Uganda (HMIS reports; unpublished)