Kenya launches distribution of mosquito nets to fight malaria

The Ministry of Health has launched the mass distribution of treated mosquito nets in a bid to curb the spread of malaria disease.

Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni said the use of mosquito nets is among the effective and appropriate ways of preventing malaria.

The latest Kenya malaria indicator survey report indicates that about 4 million Kenyans contract malaria disease while more than 10,000 people die of the disease annually.

The Ministry in collaboration with partners such as Global Fund, US-Aid, and World Health Organisation among others began distributing 15 million mosquito nets.

Muthoni said they have mapped out at least 22 counties with prone cases of malaria.

The government has also incorporated currently flood-affected counties in the North Eastern region.

Muthoni said they are focusing on preventive rather than curative.

“Many health survey reports list malaria among the leading killer diseases in the country. The most affected are expectant mothers, children of five years and below, and elderly persons,” Muthoni said.

Speaking during the launch at Ndiru playground in Rangwe constituency, Homa Bay County, the PS urged beneficiaries to appropriately use the nets.

The distribution exercise is being undertaken by more than 100,000 community health promoters across the country.

The exercise is digitized through a digital system which is an end-to-end process. This prevents leakage and loss of the nets.

Beneficiaries are required to produce their Identity Cards (ID) for their details to get captured before they receive the nets.

In the company of Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, US-Aid mission director David Gosney, Global Fund representative Abdul Fuiza, his WHO counterpart James Otieno, and Kenya’s Health Director General Patrick Amoth, PS said the use of net is one of the cost-effective methods of curbing malaria.

The government is also promoting interventions such as Indoor Residual Spray (IRS), vaccination, use of anti-malarial drugs among others.

Muthoni urged Kenyans to remain vigilant during the ongoing El Nino rains to keep malaria at bay and communicable diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and bilharzia.

She called for maintenance of the drainage system, proper waste disposal, personal hygiene, and clearing of bushes to prevent the multiplication of mosquitoes.   

“The slogan of mbu nje sisi ndani will be appropriate if we effectively use mosquito nets. We want to kick malaria out of Kenya,” the PS said.

Governor Wanga said Homa Bay is among the counties around the lake region with high mobility of malaria disease.

Statistics indicate that the county has a 3.6 prevalence of the disease. The county received a total of 841,000 treated mosquito nets.

“Malaria contributes much to the high mobility and mortality we record in the Homa Bay. Children are still at high risk of contracting the life-threatening illness,” Wanga said.

Gosney said their 16 years of partnership with Kenya has seen a great reduction of malaria spread by 50 percent.

He said US-Aid has a program of sh2.5 billion to address issues of malaria in counties around the lake region.

He said they are investing more in new technology and research to succeed in the fight against malaria.

“US-Aid is going to support the distribution of at least 4million bed nets in its effort to fight malaria. We’re in Homa Bay as a testament that the fight against malaria prevalence can be achieved,” Gosney said.

Amoth urged Kenyans to ensure children are vaccinated against diseases such as malaria, polio, measles, and chicken pox for their prosperity.

He said 61 per 1000 live births still die of malaria.

“The government is working with community health promoters to ensure skilled birth is fully embraced,” Amoth said.