Gulu District Health Department is in need of Shs 1.7 billion to finance the fight against the Malaria epidemic which has claimed dozens of lives, while others are dire need of treatment.
The latest statistics from the district health department biostatiscian indicates 9,700 patients have been diagnosed with malaria since the outbreak in May this year.
According to Mr John Opwonya Odong, the District Focal Point Person Malaria, TB, HIV/Aids and Leprosy, money will go towards financing malaria case management, prevention, surveillance, community mobilization and logistics.
During an emergency meeting held on Friday, Opwonya noted that, “The district is in urgent need of anti- malarial drugs and other medical supplies, Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) and surveillance in order to tackle the current overwhelming problem facing health facilities.”
Opwonya says the worst hit categories are children and pregnant women who are battling with malaria in various health facilities across the district.
From June 20th -25th 2015, 1,110 cases of malaria were managed of which 411 were children under 5 (U5).
Ms Rose Okilangole, the Assistant District Health Officer (ADHO) expressed concern that the district medical stores is running out of essential malaria drugs.
Okilangole noted that, “Due to the current outbreak, the rates of consumption and demand for such drugs has tripled. There is need for the National Medical Stores (NMS) to speed up the process of supplies to the district so that lives are not lost due to malaria.”
Okilangole said they have already made some request and waiting for only the drugs to be delivered.
Major health facilities such as St. Mary’s Hospital- Lacor, Gulu Regional Referral and Gulu 4th Division Military Barracks are in urgent need of anti-malaria drugs such as Lumefatrin, Artesunate injections, Qunine and Artemather among others.
The district officials have also asked the Ministry of Health to urgently resume Indoor Residual Spray exercise as a preventive measure.
Since May, districts in Acholi sub region have been battling with increasing Malaria cases.
