Kwale county government has started distributing free insecticide-treated bed nets to vulnerable households in the coastal county to help fight the spread of malaria.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female anopheles mosquitoes however it is preventable and curable.
Area Deputy Governor (DG) Chirema Kombo who launched the distribution of mosquito nets says the insecticide treated bed nets is expected to protect residents from the bites of the mosquito that serves as the vector responsible for malaria transmission.
DG Kombo accompanied by Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde and County Health Executive Dr Francis Gwama noted the goal is to encourage everyone to sleep inside the treated nets especially the malaria vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children under 5 years.
During the flagging off exercise Kombo said the Fatuma Achani led devolved government will work to increase access to treated mosquito nets to vulnerable households and guarantee the wellbeing of the general population.
He said that malaria was a major killer disease in Kenya and constituted a significant public health problem noting that the distribution exercise became imperative owing to the high rate of malaria infections caused by mosquitoes in the country.
Mr Kombo says the exercise will be conducted across the county and includes the distribution of 560,000 long lasting insecticide treated nets to 165,000 households aimed at preventing the spread of malaria.
“Kwale County government will be waging a total war against malaria in the communities in a bid to enhance the health status of the residents,” he said adding that the devolved government would not back-pedal on its efforts towards continued sensitisation and awareness campaign against malaria.
The DG said that the county government in collaboration with the National Government is aiming at spreading the mosquito nets in every village across the county with the help of ward administrators, chiefs and their assistants and community health promoters to make sure every household has received their share.
“The main objective of the nets distribution programme is to curtail the spread of malaria which for decades has had adverse socio-economic effects on the locals,” he said adding that the elimination of malaria depended on contributions and support from all and sundry.
He said Kwale is among the 28 counties nationwide burdened by malaria and disclosed that the devolved unit will push for a 100 percent coverage for net distribution and usage by the vulnerable population.
Kombo said malaria remains a public health problem in the country that can be prevented and cured through collaborative efforts such as sleeping under insecticides treated bed nets.
He said the county has started distributing the treated bed nets as part of its malaria prevention strategy especially during this long rainy season because it’s usually the peak malaria transmission period.
County Commissioner Orinde emphasised the need for households to take advantage of the nets distribution exercise to enhance their health status.
Mr Orinde said that sleeping inside the treated nets would protect people from mosquitoes that spread malaria and also ensure sound and undisturbed sleep at night.
The county administrator expressed the national government’s commitment to preventative healthcare and called for proper net usage in a bid to break the malaria transmission cycle.
He called on members of the public to judiciously use the mosquito nets given to them free of charge and to stop converting them to other improper uses.
Orinde says the treated net distribution campaign was a national effort spearheaded by the Ministry of Health to provide enough lifesaving nets to Kenyans so that they may be protected from the deadly disease.
By Hussein Abdullahi
