{Malaria has become a matter of serious concern after realizing how it is increasing in various regions of Rwanda.}
Statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate that malaria patients in 2012 were 514,173 and 325 deaths compared to 424 deaths in 2015 and 1,957,000 malaria patients.
Because of its gravity, the malaria question was raised in the national dialogue (Umushyikirano) held in December last year when President Paul Kagame requested the Minister of health, Dr Agnes Binagwaho to throw some light on the issue.
Binagwaho confirmed that malaria incidences have increased, hastily adding it’s a global threat precipitated by effects of climate change and pesticide resistant mosquitoes.
Minister Binagwaho added that some sections of the population are not willing to use mosquito nets which contribute to the increase of malaria cases.
At the end of the national dialogue, it was recommended that efforts to fight the disease should be strengthened.
During the launch of a campaign against poor hygiene and fighting against malaria, at the end of January 2016, the Prime Minister, Anastase Murekezi, attributed the increase of malaria to leaders and citizens disregarding duties.
Malaria threats resulted into suspension of national civic education (Itorero ) and was rescheduled after spraying the dormitories.
Following the Prime Minister’s launch of anti-malaria campaign, the Ministry of Education has since 4th February 2016 embarked on the program of touring schools assessing the status of hygiene conditions and efforts in combating malaria.
Yesterday the campaign reached Riviera High School and APAER Rusororo schools in Gasabo district.
The state minister in charge of primary and secondary schools ,Olivier Rwamukwaya who presided over the assessments commended efforts made in hygiene maintenance but noted that a lot still needs to be done. He advised APAER Rusororo students to use mosquito nets.
“We have seen a very small number of mosquito nets in dormitories. We have beseech you to use nets to avoid malaria,” he said.
The headmaster of APAER Rusororo, Bayiringire Seth said that even though not all students have mosquito nets, they are secure since they have applied three months guaranteed pesticides in all rooms at the beginning of the trimester.
He however said that they are going to work with parents in securing nets for their children. Rwanda targets to eradicate Malaria by 2018.
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