By Gilbert Akampa and Priscah Atuhaire,
NATIONAL
Hajjara Bukirwa, a mother of two and resident of Nsimbiziwoome zone in Bukoto Ntinda last month bought two mosquito nets from a vehicle vending treated mosquito nets and other insecticides
Few weeks later, she was very disappointed after she noticed buzzing mosquitoes that swamped inside the nets immediately she switched off the lights at night
“Whenever I switch off lights mosquitoes are buzzing and when I switch them on, I find when mosquitoes are swamped inside the mosquito nets,” Bukirwa said
Bukirwa is not alone, several other Ugandans have come out to complain about the poor quality of supplied mosquito nets incapable of protecting people from malaria infections
On different occasions, Ugandans have accused the Uganda National Drug Authority (NDA) of lack of compliance to control the sale and influx of counterfeit mosquito nets and malaria drugs which is derailing the fight against malaria in Uganda.
In a response, Abiaz Rwamwiri, the spokesperson of the NDA refuted the accusations stating that the mosquito nets procured by the authority are subjected to the mandatory analysis of the National Drug Quality Control Laboratory before use.
“Government of Uganda, through the ministry of health procures treated mosquito nets from The Global Fund. The consignments undergo mandatory analysis of the National Drug Quality Control Laboratory and the batches that pass are authorised for use,” Rwamwiri explained
He further noted that privately imported mosquito nets subjected to the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme do not undergo the mandatory analysis by NDA
