Children Champion Malaria Fight at Inaugural Bye Bye Malaria Schools Festival

Children Voices Against Malaria Uganda (CVAMU) is spearheading a new initiative, the Bye Bye Malaria Schools Festival, scheduled for November 20, 2026, at the Marriott Hotel in Kampala. This inaugural event aims to significantly boost malaria awareness and prevention efforts by centering the voices and leadership of children.

The festival will operate under the theme, “My Day, My Rights: My Health, My Future,” bringing together students, educators, health partners, and the wider community. It deliberately coincides with World Children’s Day, a date that underscores the rights of children globally.

CVAMU Executive Director Henry Lutwama highlighted the persistent threat malaria poses to children’s well-being, affecting their education, health, and family stability. He emphasized the critical need for children to receive accurate information and access to effective prevention services, noting that schools are vital platforms for fostering healthy practices and disseminating knowledge.

“Schools provide an important platform for helping children learn, develop healthy practices and share correct information with their families,” Lutwama stated. CVAMU is committed to building a child-led movement that actively involves schools, learners, teachers, and families in the mission to eliminate malaria, with the official launch on World Children’s Day symbolizing children’s central role in achieving this goal.

Through various activities, including school malaria clubs and educational outreach, children will be equipped to become agents of change within their communities. This initiative comes at a time when malaria remains a significant public health concern in Uganda, with recent reports indicating high prevalence rates in regions like Mbale and Lango, and a national childhood malaria prevalence of 13 percent.

Health experts attribute the fluctuating malaria burden to factors such as changing weather patterns and inconsistent use of preventative measures like mosquito nets. The festival’s timing also aligns with Uganda’s strategic plan for malaria elimination and the Ministry of Health’s expanded Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention program. CVAMU believes that empowering children will not only enhance awareness but also encourage widespread adoption of effective malaria prevention measures.

Source: Nile Post