By: Melanie Aanyu

Residents of Budumba sub-county, Butalejja district have raised concerns about the increased malaria deaths among infants.

They say that their children register severe signs of malaria, ranging from headache, loss of appetite, vomiting, and urinating blood.

According to the residents, they have been registering an average of five malaria-related deaths on a weekly basis for the past five months.

Christine Hibiihe, a resident of Namondo village says that she has lost two sons and one daughter in a period of 11 days. Hibiihe adds that her two surviving daughters have been bedridden for the past two days and they are yet to register any improvement.

Mariam Guuffe, a resident of Napindo village says that she lost her five-year-old daughter on Monday about two days after she had completed her fast-line malaria treatment.

The in-charge of Budumba health center III, Joseph Wasswa says that they registered 8,000 malaria cases in April, May, and June. Wasswa notes that most patients have resorted to consulting witch doctors and only rush to the health facility after registering severe symptoms, which has since increased the rate of mortality.