By Dr. Kivumbi Earnest Benjamin, L. H. D (Hon.)

SOROTI, Uganda – Uganda’s efforts to eliminate malaria have received a significant boost following a strategic collaboration between Pilgrim Africa and Children’s Voices Against Malaria aimed at increasing uptake of Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) in high-burden communities.

The partnership leverages a school-based sponsorship model to strengthen community sensitisation and tackle persistent resistance to IRS, particularly in endemic regions such as Teso.

IRS remains one of the Ministry of Health’s core interventions in reducing malaria transmission. However, health officials note that its effectiveness has often been undermined by misinformation, fear, and low household acceptance.

Under the initiative, Children’s Voices Against Malaria has supported IRS activities at Siirt Islamic Primary School in Soroti, alongside other selected schools participating in the programme.
“When you involve children, you are not just implementing a programme—you are shaping community behaviour,” said Geofrey Mugisha, Head of Community Engagement at Children’s Voices Against Malaria.

Through this model, schools are being transformed into hubs for community engagement, with learners expected to influence attitudes and practices within their homes and neighbourhoods.

According to Dr Wycliffe Odude, a senior entomologist at Pilgrim Africa, community cooperation remains critical to the success of IRS interventions. He emphasised that technical solutions alone are insufficient without public trust and understanding.
Early results from Soroti indicate that student-driven approaches can help dispel misconceptions and improve acceptance of spraying teams.

The programme is expected to expand to more schools, as stakeholders aim to replicate the model in other districts with a high malaria burden. Analysts say the initiative reflects a broader shift toward integrated public health delivery, where government efforts are reinforced by civil society and community-based actors.

Uganda continues to prioritise IRS as part of its national malaria control strategy, with renewed focus on grassroots mobilisation to sustain gains in reducing the disease.

World Malaria Day.

Observed annually on World Malaria Day, April 25 serves as a global platform to raise awareness about malaria prevention, control, and elimination efforts. The day highlights the need for sustained investment, innovation, and community participation in the fight against malaria.
In Uganda, where malaria remains one of the leading causes of illness and death, World Malaria Day is marked by intensified campaigns promoting the use of preventive measures such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets, Indoor Residual Spraying, and early treatment-seeking behaviour.

Health experts say initiatives like the Pilgrim Africa–CVAM school model align with the spirit of World Malaria Day by placing communities—especially young people—at the centre of the fight against the disease.