File photo of a mosquito nets delivery event in Wakiso district, Uganda, Jan. 23, 2018. (Xinhua/Joseph Kiggundu)
KAMPALA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- As the world commemorated World Refugee Day on Wednesday, Uganda said it will distribute mosquito nets to all refugees in the country in efforts to fight the deadly malaria.
Health Minister Ruth Aceng told reporters here that refugees residing in 10 settlements will get the nets starting June 23.
"With support from Global Fund, a total of 849,495 mosquito nets have been procured aiming to protect approximately 1.4 million people," she said.
A study conducted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in December 2017 showed that only 37 percent of refugee households owned at least one mosquito net.
Uganda hosts refugees from neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi among others.
Ministry of health figures show that malaria kills between 70,000 to 100,000 people in the country, mostly pregnant mothers and children.
