Hill Top School
hosted a cafe on:-
Are we winning the war against malaria?
Malaria is a problem for the students at Hilltop Secondary School. Almost every one of the 27 students attending the café talk said that they suffered from frequent attacks of malaria.
A good number of them did not know the cause of malaria. They associated malaria transmission to drinking dirty water. Some of the students were confused as to why they continued to suffer from malaria even after drinking boiled water.
Mr. Dennis Olwenyi, a clinical officer with an eight year medical experience on handling malaria related cases, told the students that malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmoduim falcipalum which is transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquito. He gave the cycle of the parasite and feeding habits of the adult Anopheles mosquito which transmits it to humans by a bite. The mosquito, he said, likes feeding at night (close to midnight) when people are sleeping and less suspicious of its presence.
How does malaria affect young people?
According to the expert, children and young people are the most vulnerable to the attacks because they have not developed enough immunity against the disease. That they suffered more because they are at a crucial point in their lives when growth and development of vital life processes is taking place.
How can I protect myself from malaria?
The students and the expert identified sleeping under a mosquito net as one of the cheapest and easiest ways to avoid bites from the infected mosquito. They discussed the symptoms of a malaria attack (e.g. high temperature, vomiting, joint pain, loss of appetite etc). Mr. Olwenyi cautioned on the need to take a laboratory test for malaria to confirm the parasite in the blood before taking any medication.
Is there a malaria vaccine?
The expert told the students that there was hope and that scientists are on the verge of making the vaccine against malaria. He said malaria treatment drugs are now available and that currently, the Ministry of Health had recommended the ACT therapy (Action Combination therapy).
Is DDT spraying safe?
Students wanted to know whether the DDT spraying which has been proposed by the Government of Uganda has any negative impact. It was agreed that this topic should be discussed further in a future café.
