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Bliss GVS Pharmaceuticals donated UGX 35 million worth of anti-malarial and dermatological medications to Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), received by Dr. Sarah Zalwango, Acting Director for Public Health. Dr. Zalwango emphasized the importance of the donation, noting high demand for anti-malarial drugs during the rainy season. She encouraged preventative measures like mosquito net use and advised malaria vaccinations for pregnant women.

Bliss GVS Pharmaceuticals has donated anti-malarial and dermatological medicines valued at UGX 35 million to Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). The donation was received on Wednesday by Dr. Sarah Zalwango, Acting Director for Public Health and Environment at KCCA, who commended Bliss GVS for their support in addressing pressing health challenges in the city.

Dr. Zalwango expressed gratitude, highlighting the critical role of the donated medicines, especially in combating malaria, which escalates during the rainy season. “These anti-malarial drugs will be crucial in helping us deliver timely treatment,” she noted, explaining that while KCCA receives supplies from the government, stock often runs out quickly due to high demand.

She also urged the public to take preventive steps against malaria by sleeping under mosquito nets and advised pregnant women to receive the malaria vaccine. Dr. Zalwango emphasised the importance of testing and proper treatment to curb the spread of malaria.

KCCA manages eight health centres, including Kiswa, Bukoto, City Hall Clinic, Kisugu, Kawala, Kisenyi, Komamboga, and Kitebi, offering free treatment to the public. However, with around 2,000 health facilities across Kampala and its suburbs, only 21 are public, underscoring the need for additional support like the one provided by Bliss GVS.

Beyond malaria, Dr. Zalwango highlighted a growing Mpox outbreak in Kampala, reporting 131 confirmed cases in the city and 193 across the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area. “We are witnessing new cases daily,” she warned, urging the public to remain vigilant.

Phiona Namugenyi, a supervisor at Bliss GVS Pharmaceuticals, reiterated the company’s commitment to supporting local communities in the fight against malaria, Uganda’s leading cause of death, particularly among children under five. In 2022, the World Health Organisation reported over 17,556 malaria-related deaths in Uganda, with malaria accounting for a significant share of outpatient and hospital visits.

Bliss GVS Pharmaceuticals, known for its anti-malarial, antifungal, and pain management medications, aligns its contributions with Uganda’s Malaria Reduction Strategic Plan 2020-2025 (UMRSP), which aims to reduce malaria cases and related deaths by 50% and 75%, respectively, by 2025.