Introduction
ALAMIME (African Leadership and Management training for Impact in Malaria Eradication) alumni across Africa are making significant contributions to the eradication of malaria on the continent. From advocating in spaces where malaria policies and decisions are made to engaging communities most affected and vulnerable to malaria, their efforts are impactful. This activity was recently witnessed in Karenga District and the Lango Region in Uganda through the “Walk Against Malaria” campaign.
Malaria in Lango and Northern Uganda
Uganda ranks third globally in malaria cases, bearing 5.1% of the global morbidity burden and 2.9% of the fatality burden (Severe Malaria Observatory, n.d.). The northern regions of Uganda are disproportionately affected, with an average of 251 to 450 cases per 1,000 people (Severe Malaria Observatory, n.d.). Children under five are among those most at risk of suffering from malaria, alongside pregnant women.
Several interventions, such as the distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS), have been implemented to combat malaria in Uganda, particularly in the northern region. However, the malaria burden remains high, with a 22.5% prevalence in Karenga District, Uganda (Karenga District, n.d.). To strengthen existing malaria eradication efforts by various stakeholders, ALAMIME alumni played a crucial role in engaging communities in Karenga District about malaria.
The Walk Against Malaria in Karenga District and Lango Region in Uganda
The “Walk Against Malaria” was a campaign spearheaded by various stakeholders in the fight against malaria in Uganda, leading in part, to the World Malaria Day commemoration. World Malaria Day is an annual global commemoration day held every 25 April to raise awareness about malaria and strengthen interventions for its prevention and control.
Alongside key stakeholders in the fight against malaria, ALAMIME alumni camped in Karenga District and the Lango Region in Uganda.
Notable participants included representatives from the central government, led by Honourable Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Cabinet Minister for Health in Uganda, local government officials from Karenga District, and civil society organizations such as TASO, Malaria Consortium, and the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Malaria. Schools in the area were also an integral part of the Walk Against Malaria.
ALAMIME alumnus Mr. Lokiru (Uganda Cohort 3) stated that the campaign aimed to raise awareness, mobilize resources, and engage the community in the fight against malaria in Karenga District.
Ms. Shamillah Nakyanzi, a trainee from Uganda’s Cohort 4, justified the choice of Lango Region and Karenga District as the focus for the event, citing the high malaria burden these areas.
It became imperative for stakeholders to unite their efforts to improve malaria health outcomes in Karenga District and the Lango Region.
The Walk Against Malaria activities commenced in Karenga District from April 8 to April 10, 2025. The campaign in Karenga District featured an integrated anti-malaria initiative, including health education on malaria through poetry, a solidarity march, and a mass anti-malaria vaccination campaign.
A highlight was the treatment of individuals who tested positive for malaria in the high-burden communities of Karenga and Lobalangit. Traversing the district to share messages about malaria was also an instrumental part of the campaign.
The “Walk Against Malaria” event in the Lango Region took place in Lira City on April 12, 2025. The presence of Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Cabinet Minister of Health, lent significant weight to the event.
Similar to the activities in Karenga District, the Lira City event integrated HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis services into the campaign against malaria. Estimates suggest that the two Walk Against Malaria campaigns reached over 1,000 people, a strong indicator of the significant potential of community engagement initiatives like the “Walk Against Malaria” in Karenga District and Lira City, Lango Region, for eradicating malaria in high-burden communities in Uganda and across Africa.
Conclusion
The contributions of ALAMIME alumni to efforts like the “Walk Against Malaria” in Karenga District and the Lango Region are invaluable in strengthening health systems in low-resource settings to combat malaria. Their efforts significantly reduce the malaria burden in these communities, promote social justice, and lower out-of-pocket expenditures on malaria treatment.
References
Karenga District. (n.d.). Health. https://karenga.go.ug/health#:~:text=Disease%20prevalence,to%205%25%20per%20100.000%20population.
Severe Malaria Observatory. (n.d.). *Malaria in Uganda: Statistics & facts*. Retrieved from https://www.severemalaria.org
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