The Kenya Red Cross is distributing 10,000 mosquito nets to residents of Lamu county in areas prone to malaria and dengue fever.
The move is part of an intervention programme aimed at curbing the spread of the two diseases. The nets are being distributed by the Red Cross in collaboration with the national government through the public health department.
There have been reports of increased malaria and dengue fever attacks among children and adults, prompting the intervention.
The health department has since mapped out malaria and dengue fever-prone areas to be prioritised for net distribution.
Red Cross regional head of health intervention programme Louisealba Mwende said the exercise will cover both Lamu East and West.
She said the Red Cross will equally supply the county government with fumigation materials that will be used to clear mosquitoes and larva.
“We shall also supply the nets to schools. The public health department will distribute the nets to boarding school students,” Mwende said.
The bulk of malaria and dengue fever cases reported have been from schools, especially boarding institutions.
County chief officer for medical services Victor Tole said they had stocked enough supplies of anti-malarial drugs. He said the county is ready for any eventualities it has the capacity to handle any outbreak.
“We are ready. We also have adequate supplies of test kits to use for testing the diseases. Let the public know that we are on top of things,” Tole said.
