Turkana is the first county to implement the new Seasonal Malaria Chemo-Prevention (SMC) strategy to prevent malaria.
Officers from the County Government of Turkana and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), among other stakeholders, were informed of this latest development during a meeting to discuss the administration of SMC anti-malarial drugs (SP+AQ) to prevent malaria in children under five in Turkana Central.
SP+AQ is a combination of malaria drugs that provides long-lasting protection from deadly parasitic diseases. It is administered in five cycles at an interval of 28 days to enhance high protection against malaria.
The County Chief Officer of Medical Services, Dr. Gilchrist Lokoel, said, “Turkana County is glad to be the first county in Kenya to implement the SMC strategy. Health is a shared function, and working together will enhance the success of this new intervention for malaria prevention.”
Speaking during the meeting, Deputy County Secretary, Albert Gamoe urged the team to advocate for SMC since it is a new strategy in the county.
The Director of Medical Services, James Kidalio, said the county team is committed to supporting the SMC strategy through the administration of antimalarial drugs.
The CRS Project Officer, Seraphine Mwende, asked the team to join hands in making the SMC strategy a success in order to address the malaria menace in Turkana.
One of the researchers from Moi University, Joseph Kipkoech, said that the findings of the SMC intervention in Turkana Central will inform national policy and roll-out in other counties.
Present were Turkana South Deputy County Commissioner Gideon Ombongi, Director Administration Locheria Chris, as well as the Director Partnerships and Administration at the Health Department, Nancy Nyang’a.
By Peter Gitonga
