The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has advised Ugandans to grow mosquito repellant plants and clear bushes around their homes to fight malaria.
He made the statement on Sunday after taking a lead role in the Parliament Walk intended to raise awareness in the war against malaria.
According to Tayebwa, the fight against malaria doesn’t have to be only about money but also about mobilization of communities and sensitization of the people.
“We must mobilize our communities to join the war against malaria. Let’s sensitize our people to stop using mosquito nets for fishing, harvesting coffee, making ‘malwa, and trapping ‘Nsenene-Eswa’. It doesn’t have to be about money all the time; let’s clear all the bushes around our homes. Let’s use plants in our homes that are mosquito repellents. This is not a fight for only Uganda; 95% of the people who die of malaria are from Africa,” he tweeted.
Tayebwa said that malaria affects the country’s economy in a significant way; we lose more than Shs2.4 trillion per year, and malaria kills about 52 Ugandans per day.
Tayebwa further required the ministry of health to promote the planting of greenery that repels malaria and also intensify community mobilization against malaria.
“This is an African problem. As leaders, we must combine efforts to deal with this malaria problem. Let’s also donate blood and do physical exercise. Let’s kick malaria out of Uganda and save lives,” he said.