39.933m Ugandans Sleep Under Mosquito Nets- Health Survey Report Shows

The recent health survey report which was conducted and released by Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) during the 2024 National Housing and Population Census indicate that over 39.9m Ugandans out of 45.9m have access to mosquito nets and there fore can no longer die of malaria, Spyreports can exclusively report.

In the detailed report which we got a hard copy shows that 87% of the total house holds in Uganda sleep under mosquito daily. "House hold ownership of mosquito nets is one the central interventions for preventing Malaria infection in Uganda," Reads part of the wider healthy report that was conducted during NPHC in 2024.

The report further shows high reduction of young children dying of six killer diseases such as polio, Whooping Cough, Tuberculosis among others. It further narrates that Teso Sub region which constitutes districts like Soroti, Palisa,Kumi,Bukedia, among others has the highest portion of households with mosquito nets with 93% while Karamoja has the lowest with 83%.

"85% of the mosquito nets were obtained from government mass distribution while 14% were purchased and only 3% were obtained from NGOs," says part of the report. 

However the report reveals despite fighting to reduce malaria in Uganda, the health insurance is still very low. "Health insurance coverage was significantly low, with 1% of the population having access to insurance coverage," States report. HEALTH SERVICES The report indicates that almost over 39m Ugandans have got access to health services on daily basis if they have health issues.

 "In Uganda health system is composed of several players including government, private providers, Traditional and complementary health practitioners," States report adding that the government of Uganda through Ministry of health aims to provide accessible and quality health care to the entire population.

The Uganda vision 2040, the health sector aims at ensuring that Uganda's population is productive and can effectively contribute to social economic growth. In our depth investigations, we found out that out of 10717 parishes in Uganda, 1286 parishes that constitutes 12% have got one government owned Health Center || where millions of Ugandans can access free health services of all types.

The report further shows that 1.6% of the parishes and those founded by communities were only 0.3%. "Over all about 15% of parishes have got health Center|| irrespective of founding body," Adds the report. It is also indicated in the report that Kigezi sub region that constitutes the districts of Kabale,Kisoro,Rukunguri,Kanungu,Rukiga have got high parishes with at least one Health center with percentage of 35% followed by Busoga 23% and Elgon sub region with lowest at 6%. It is further indicated that out of 2197 Sub Counties in Uganda ,1186 Sub Counties that make up 54% have got Health Center iii.

However 46% which 1010 Sub Countries in the Country have government founded health Center iii while private and NGO founded Health Center iii were at only6.4% and Community founded Health Center iii in sub Counties were less than 1%. The report puts Buganda Sub Region with highest number of Health center iii with 65% followed by Ankole with 62% and Karamoja with lowest at 30%.

The report shows that out of 146 districts in Uganda , 134 which is 92% has got one government Hospital. It also indicated that 68% of the districts in Uganda has got one private hospital and only 15% of the districts have got community based hospitals. The report shows that 95% of districts in Uganda have got one hospital irrespective of the ownership.

 MORTALITY RATE

This is the incidence of death in a Country's Population. Child and infant mortality is highly sensitive to social economic change in the Country. According to the report, there was high reduction in mortality rates.

 "For every 1000 children born live, only 34 would die before they end the day," shows the report adding that out of 1000 children born live only 46 would die before the age of five years. The life expectancy has also shot up to 69 years. According to Dr Kagwa Paul a retired doctor who worked with Ministry of Health for over 30 years says that the government has improved health services across the Country.

"I want to give a credit to government for improving health services and saving lives of millions of Ugandans. " when I was still working with Ministry of Health, we had a lot of challenges like access to health centers, ambulances to take patients to hospitals, luck health workers among others," he said.

He added that the government has extended health services closer to population by setting up health centers at Parish, Sub County,County and District levels.