The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Kazo District, Hajji Badru Mayanja Majwala, officially opened an integrated advocacy meeting where he called upon religious leaders to actively support government health programs aimed at combating diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis (TB), and HIV.

In his opening remarks, Hajji Mayanja emphasized the vital role religious leaders play in influencing communities and urged them to sensitize their congregations on disease prevention and health promotion. He expressed concern over the misuse of mosquito nets, highlighting cases where nets distributed by the government were being used for poultry keeping instead of their intended purpose of preventing malaria. He called on religious leaders to encourage their communities to use mosquito nets properly and to regularly test for various health conditions.

Supporting the CAO's message, Acting District Health Officer Madam Esther Bully rebuked religious leaders who discourage their followers from taking medication, particularly HIV treatment. She reminded attendees that “God helps those who help themselves” and urged faith leaders to stand with the government in promoting life-saving health initiatives.

The district health educator, Fokushaba Scovia, also echoed the call for collaboration, urging religious leaders to encourage their followers to get tested for HIV, TB and other diseases. She further advocated for participation in the ongoing malaria vaccination campaign.

Mathius Mwesige, Public Policy Coordinator for the National TB and Leprosy Program in the Ministry of Health, also addressed the gathering. He called for greater coordination between religious leaders and the government to tackle diseases within communities. He assured attendees that the Ministry of Health is committed to ongoing efforts such as policy development, capacity building, sensitization, mobilization, and resource allocation to improve public health.

Kazo district LC5 Chairperson Rev. Samuel Mugisha Katugunda, who also attended the meeting, emphasized the inseparable link between the government and religious leaders. He stated that collaboration is essential to successfully implement health programs, especially in combating malaria, a major concern in the district.

Kazo district, being under the cattle corridor, continues to fight malaria. The district’s overall malaria positivity rate stands at 33%, with sub-county-specific rates as follows: Kyampangara (63%), Engari (50%), Buremba (41%), Kazo Sub-county (36%), Rwemikoma (34%), Nkungu (26%), Burunga (26%), Kanoni (25%), Migina (23%), and Kazo Town Council (18%).

Despite these high rates, the Kazo District Local Government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, remains committed to reducing malaria transmission. Efforts include sensitizing communities on the proper use of mosquito nets and promoting other government-provided preventative measures.