Driven by Uganda’s National Malaria Control Program, Uganda reduced its malaria burden among WRA from 30% to 19% between 2006 and 2016.³ Of particular importance was the scale-up and increased coverage of preventive interventions—such as insecticide-treated nets and intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy. These efforts not only improved control of malaria but also directly contributed to reductions in its incidence among mothers, who are at the highest risk for anemia. This pathway from malaria interventions to anemia reduction underscores the critical role of targeted malaria control strategies in improving maternal health outcomes.

Established and supported by the Ministry of Health, VHTs are community-based health workers who have played a critical role in scaling up community-based preventive and health promotion services associated with efforts to manage and prevent anemia. Their efforts include providing preventive malaria interventions, counseling on family planning and modern contraceptive use, and distributing iron and folic acid supplements at the community level. VHTs have been instrumental in improving hygiene, sanitation, immunization, antenatal care, and HIV services, with many rural communities attributing reductions in specific illnesses and mortality to their work.