KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s Ministry of Health is urging religious leaders to actively promote the uptake of the newly introduced malaria vaccine.
The appeal was made during a meeting organized in collaboration with the Faith for Family Health Initiative and the Interfaith Alliance for Health at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kampala, officials said Saturday.
Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, emphasized at the event that integrating the malaria vaccine into Uganda’s routine immunization program is crucial for achieving a malaria-free country by 2030. She stressed that the ministry’s partnership with religious leaders aims to increase public awareness and encourage vaccination to reduce malaria cases and deaths.
Anifa Kawooya Bangirana, the State Minister for Health in charge of General Duties, highlighted the importance of community mobilization. She reminded participants of the lessons learned from Uganda’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign, where an estimated $80 million worth of vaccines went unused due to low demand.
“We cannot afford to let vaccine hesitancy undermine our efforts against malaria,” Kawooya warned. She also noted that malaria’s impact extends beyond health, with Uganda losing an estimated $500 million annually due to reduced productivity.
According to a recent World Health Organization report, Uganda records 12.6 million malaria cases annually, and the disease is responsible for 14% of deaths among children under five.
The Mufti of Uganda, His Eminence Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, pledged the support of faith leaders, urging the government to provide clear, evidence-based information to counter misinformation about the vaccine.
Dr. Richard Kabanda, Commissioner for Health Promotion at the Ministry of Health, explained that religious leaders are well-positioned to positively influence communities.
Jackie Katana, Executive Director of Faith for Family Health Initiative, hailed the engagement as a significant step in addressing vaccine myths and building trust.
With malaria remaining a leading cause of death in Uganda, the government is optimistic that this new partnership will strengthen public confidence and improve malaria vaccine uptake across the country.
