Government responds to deaths of learners due to severe malaria in Kampala schools
The Ministry of Health has presented a statement to Parliament following concerns raised over the deaths of learners from severe malaria in schools within the Kampala Metropolitan Area.
The statement was presented in response to a matter of national importance raised by KIgulu South MP, Kaluya Kizza Andrew.
The Ministry expressed condolences to the families, schools, and communities affected by the deaths of four learners.
The Ministry confirmed that four learners died from severe malaria in three schools: two from Makerere College School, one from Mengo Senior Secondary School, and one from Gayaza High School.
The Ministry clarified that other reported learner deaths at Naalya Secondary School, Ndejje Secondary School, Katakwi Secondary School, and Kakiri Secondary School were caused by unrelated incidents.
The Ministry of Health said there is no evidence of a new or more dangerous malaria strain causing the deaths. It explained that the affected learners were at higher risk because children in low malaria transmission areas, such as Kampala, often have lower immunity against the disease.
The Ministry noted that severe malaria can progress quickly among such children, making early diagnosis and emergency treatment important.
The Ministry, together with the Ministry of Education and Sports, has introduced measures to prevent further deaths. These include conducting malaria risk assessments in affected schools, improving school health surveillance, strengthening referral systems, and providing guidance on malaria prevention and treatment.
The government also plans to improve school health services through recruitment of school nurses and better coordination between schools and health facilities.
The Ministry committed to completing investigations into the affected schools, issuing nationwide guidance on malaria prevention, strengthening emergency referral systems, and developing a funded Malaria-Free Schools Programme.
The Ministry emphasized that no learner should lose their life due to malaria when prevention, early testing, and timely treatment measures are available.
