‘Panadol Is Not Enough’: MP Nabulo Demands Better Malaria Care In Schools Amid Rising Cases

By Frank Kamuntu

Sironko District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Asha Mafabi Nabulo, has called on the government to strengthen malaria diagnosis and treatment in schools, warning that poor case management is contributing to the rising burden of the disease among learners.

Speaking during Wednesday’s plenary sitting of Parliament, Nabulo said malaria prevalence has increased significantly over recent years, with schools emerging as major hotspots for infections.

“I need to clarify that the prevalence is no longer 10 percent. Those were statistics from 2019, and it has actually increased,” Nabulo told Parliament.

Her remarks came as legislators debated Uganda’s worsening malaria burden following concerns over rising infections and reported deaths among school-going children linked to severe malaria and delayed treatment.

Nabulo said many malaria cases are now being reported in both primary and secondary schools, where learners often receive inadequate medical attention.

“Many of these malaria cases are actually in schools, both secondary and primary. As my colleague has mentioned, the treatment method is where the problem is,” she said.

The legislator expressed concern that some schools continue to treat learners who present with fever and headaches by administering only painkillers without first conducting proper malaria tests.

“They give them Panadol for headaches alone,” she said, noting that such practices delay appropriate treatment and increase the risk of severe illness and complications.

She urged the government to improve malaria case management in schools by ensuring learners have timely access to proper diagnosis and effective treatment.

Her concerns echoed those of other legislators, who called on the Ministries of Health and Education to strengthen healthcare services in schools by establishing functional sick bays, deploying trained health personnel and ensuring adequate supplies of malaria diagnostic kits and medicines.

During the debate, Parliament also heard that school-going children are a significant reservoir for malaria transmission, with studies showing that many carry malaria parasites without showing symptoms, thereby contributing to continued community transmission.

Hon. Nabulo further cited observations suggesting that individuals with blood group O positive may be more susceptible to mosquito bites and malaria infections.

“Unfortunately, people with blood group O positive are also very prone to mosquito bites and malaria,” she added.

Uganda remains one of the countries most affected by malaria globally. According to the Uganda Malaria Indicator Survey 2024–2025, malaria parasite prevalence among children aged six to 59 months has risen to approximately 21 percent, up from 9 percent recorded in the 2018–2019 survey, highlighting the country’s growing malaria challenge.

Health experts have warned that delayed diagnosis, inadequate treatment and poor health-seeking behaviour continue to drive severe malaria cases and preventable deaths, particularly among children and adolescents, underscoring the need for stronger interventions in schools and communities.