Oxitec, a pioneering British firm specializing in genetic modifications, is set to collaborate with the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) in a groundbreaking initiative to combat malaria in Uganda.
This collaboration was unveiled on Tuesday during a meeting between President Museveni and Oxitec's Chief Executive Officer, Grey Frandsen, in Rwakitura, Kiruhura District.
President Museveni extended a warm welcome to Oxitec in Uganda, endorsing their partnership with UVRI to collectively address the malaria crisis.
He pledged comprehensive support, stating, “I offer all the necessary support to the institution to come up with a solution to fight the life-threatening disease.”
Oxitec's innovative gene modification technique involves introducing a lethal gene into mosquitoes, which is then inherited by their offspring, leading to the offspring's death before reaching adulthood.
This technology has been successfully employed by Oxitec in Brazil since 2011, and the company has been exploring similar projects in Panama, Djibouti, and the Marshall Islands.
In 2020, Oxitec received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to release mosquitoes with the “self-limiting gene” in Florida and Texas. Despite facing resistance in the Florida Keys, where over 150,000 residents petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to stop the project, the release commenced in spring 2021. Oxitec responded to protests with a comprehensive public education campaign.
During the Rwakitura meeting, Grey informed President Museveni about the significance of addressing the Anopheles funestus, a major malaria vector in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He emphasized the urgent need for attention due to its cyclic transmission throughout the year.
Grey also revealed Oxitec's intention to form a unique public-private partnership with the Government of Uganda, marking the first of its kind in Africa.
Uganda has faced an escalating burden of malaria since January 2022, with cases reaching over 300,000 reported every week at its peak by the end of the year.
According to the World Health Organization, Uganda has the world’s highest malaria incidence rate, with 478 cases per 1,000 population per year. Malaria is a leading cause of sickness and death in Uganda, responsible for up to 40% of all outpatient visits, 25% of hospital admissions, and 14% of all hospital deaths. The malaria death rate in Uganda is estimated to be between 70,000 and 100,000 deaths per year, surpassing that of HIV/AIDS.
The average economic loss in Uganda due to malaria annually is over $500 million.
The Rwakitura meeting was attended by key figures, including the Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu, the Director of UVRI, and Dr. Joseph Okware, the Director of Health Services in the Ministry of Health, among others.
