By Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu,
HEALTH
The World Mosquito Day was celebrated on Tuesday 22, August,2023 with great zeal and fervor as community leaders and members from various walks of life took part in a band procession in the town. The event was organized to raise awareness about the importance of fighting diseases spread by mosquitoes and to call for more research and innovations in this regard.
The procession was led by Professor Pontiano Kaleebu, Director of the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), who emphasized the need for collaboration and research to supplement current tools and address gaps in interventions to save lives. He highlighted the impact of diseases spread by mosquitoes, particularly malaria, dengue, and Zika, and the significant burden they place on communities, especially in developing countries.
Speaking at the event, Professor Kaleebu said, “We need more research and innovation to find new tools and solutions to fight diseases spread by mosquitoes. Collaboration among different stakeholders is crucial to address the gaps in interventions and reduce the burden of diseases caused by these vectors.”
The band procession was witnessed by different leaders in town and the community, who lauded the efforts of UVRI in fighting mosquito-borne diseases. The event was also an opportunity for the community to learn about mosquito control measures and ways to prevent mosquito bites.
As per the World Health Organization, malaria remains a major public health threat, with an estimated 229 million cases worldwide in 2019. Dengue and Zika, on the other hand, are emerging threats, with outbreaks reported in many countries in recent years.
The event concluded with a call for more investment in research and innovation, strengthening surveillance, and scaling up mosquito control measures to achieve the goal of eliminating these diseases.
