By KT Reporter
Rotary International, through its initiative “Rotarians Against Malaria”, has intensified efforts to fight malaria in the Busoga sub-region by rallying new mothers to embrace the malaria vaccine, R21, for their children. The campaign is being rolled out through sensitization drives held at Health Center IVs, which coordinate most vaccination activities across Busoga.
Rotary is also working with health workers to develop strategies that encourage public trust in the vaccine and highlight its role in safeguarding children against malaria infections. Daniel Perlman, Chair of the Rotarians Against Malaria–Global Rotary Action Group (RAM-Global), said the organization is moving across Africa to mobilize grassroots communities to embrace malaria vaccination and other preventive measures.
Perlman noted that Rotary is the world’s largest service organization, with over 40,000 clubs made up of volunteers running projects aimed at eradicating malaria, particularly in Africa. He explained that Rotary’s success in spearheading vaccination drives has been demonstrated before, citing the eradication of smallpox in 1977 and the near-eradication of polio, with only a few cases now reported in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“As polio goes down to zero in the next two or three years, we have now positioned ourselves as an impact organization in the fight against malaria through the promotion of the two vaccines approved by the World Health Organization,” Perlman said. During a field visit to Jinja City, Perlman observed that the malaria vaccine has already been integrated into the routine immunization schedule, a move that has significantly boosted uptake among children.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the R21 malaria vaccine, now being administered to children in Uganda, provides up to 77 percent protection. Experts, however, emphasize that the vaccine should be taken alongside other preventive measures such as sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor residual spraying.
Moses Kyangwa, Chief Executive Officer of the Busoga Health Forum (BHF), said partnerships with local doctors and village health teams have been crucial in promoting vaccine acceptance at the grassroots level. Kyangwa explained that village health team members have been instrumental in mobilizing communities and demystifying misinformation about the malaria vaccine. “This approach has made malaria vaccines more appealing to the targeted communities amidst contradicting voices echoing otherwise,” Kyangwa said.
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