An unspecified number of mosquito nets are suspected to have been destroyed in a fierce fire that engulfed a private warehouse rented by the National Medical Stores (NMS) in Entebbe earlier today.
NMS spokesperson Ms. Sheilah Nduhukire revealed that they are collaborating with relevant authorities to assess the extent of the damage and determine the cause of the fire.
Nduhukire also assured the public that NMS has activated its business continuity plan to ensure the uninterrupted supply of mosquito nets to the people of Uganda.
Update: A fire has broken out at Entebbe International Airport in one of the warehouses belonging to the DAS handling agency.
Firefighters are doing their best to contain it. Preliminary information shows that property worth millions has been lost, including National Medical… pic.twitter.com/P6OwlEBLkq
— NTV UGANDA (@ntvuganda) September 13, 2023
“We regret to inform the public that there was a fire incident at one of the private warehouses we had rented for mosquito net storage in Entebbe. Fortunately, we promptly notified the emergency fire services, and they are currently working diligently to extinguish the fire,” Nduhukire stated during an interview with KFM on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Health is currently conducting a free mosquito net distribution campaign aimed at combatting malaria in Uganda.
According to the World Health Organization, Uganda ranks 3rd globally in terms of malaria cases, with over 12 million cases reported annually. This means that out of every 10 sick individuals in Uganda, three are suffering from malaria.
Health experts emphasize that sleeping under an insecticide-treated mosquito net can reduce the risk of contracting malaria by as much as 60%.
