KAMPALA, July 30 — Uganda on Wednesday issued new malaria prevention and treatment guidelines for schools as part of efforts to reduce infections among school-age children, who remain among the groups most vulnerable to the disease.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, the Ministry of Education and Sports said that school-age children, aged between five and 19 years, have been identified as being at high risk of malaria. According to the ministry, malaria is a major contributor to school absenteeism, dropout and poor academic performance. Severe cases can also lead to brain damage or death if treatment is delayed. Under the new guidelines, all learners diagnosed with malaria should receive the recommended treatment within two hours of diagnosis. Mild cases may be treated by a school nurse, while severe cases should be referred immediately to a health facility. “Avoid self-medication, sharing of medicines, non-completion of medication or starting malaria medicines without treatment,” the statement added.
The guidelines also require schools to provide malaria prophylaxis to learners traveling from low- to high-transmission areas, such as during school trips. Schools are further advised to conduct indoor residual spraying with recommended insecticides before the start of each school term and plant mosquito-repellent vegetation on school premises. In addition, the ministry said all school-age children should sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets every night.
Xinhua
