Malaria prevalence drops by 6% nationally, survey shows

Malaria prevalence has dropped to six per cent in 2020 compared to eight per cent in 2015.

Head of Division of National Malaria Programme Dr George Githuka said at a presentation during the launch of 2020 Kenya Malaria Indicator Survey.

“The mass net campaign has helped a lot of people in areas where the prevalence of the disease is high like in the lake and coast regions," Githuka said.

"However pregnant women and children under five years are the most vulnerable.” 

A high burden of the disease was at 19 per cent in the lake region. The places included Siaya, Kisumu, Migori, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma,and Busia.

The coastal region is at five per cent and the low risk areas like Nairobi, Nakuru, Naivasha,Nyeri, Muranga and Machakos have only less than 1 per cent.

He said the government targets to reduce malaria cases and deaths in Kenya by 75 per cent by 2023 as envisioned in the Kenya Malaria Strategy.

Kenya has managed to reduce the number of malaria cases seen in hospitals from an annual average of six million to 4.6 million.

"We believe the drop was registered as fewer people got tested for malaria. Some refused to go to hospital on fears that high fever, a malaria symptom, would lead them to be diagnosed with Covid-19," Githuka said.

The report also stated that mixed infections of the species (P. falciparum and P. malariae) of malaria have increased over the last five years and was the cause of the estimated 3.5 million malaria cases and 10,700 deaths in Kenya.

However, Githuka said that there have been significant achievements recorded with the huge investments made by both private partners and the government.

Health Chief Administrative Secretary Mercy Mwangangi has said that the 2020 survey would generate the much needed data to help the country review its strategies.

“The survey will help us identify the gaps, as well as afford us the opportunity to contribute our individual and collective data to the elimination of the disease,’’ she said.

The CAS said that the last in-country malaria indicator survey that was conducted in 2015, provided Kenya the opportunities to ascertain the progress made.

The World Health Organization medical officer in charge of health policies, strategies and governance Juliet Nabyonga said that there has been a gradual shift from malaria control to elimination.

She attributed this to evidence tracked over the years and the use of innovative technologies.

African Leaders Malaria Alliance, whose main goal is to end malaria in the next nine years, issued their agenda to introduce a five-year plan that will mobilise countries in East Africa over malaria spread through the borders.