The government has launched a distribution of mosquito nets to the residents of West Pokot County as part of a sustainable initiative aimed at combating malaria in the nation.
The launch of the distribution was conducted by West Pokot County Deputy Governor Robert Komolle at the Kapkoris Health Centre located in the Kapenguria constituency.
Deputy Governor Komolle said that the mass nets’ distribution initiative sought to provide a total of 480,275 mosquito nets throughout the county, with a particular emphasis on areas that were highly susceptible to malaria.
He highlighted that the programme is designed to reach 111,903 households, benefiting approximately 908,371 individuals.
He emphasized that the distribution of nets effort is an integral component of a comprehensive strategy to address the challenges posed by malaria and enhance public health in the area.
Komolle emphasized the importance of public participation in malaria prevention efforts and encouraged members of the community to receive their bed nets from the assigned distribution locations and to utilize them correctly.
“If you use your mosquito nets well, you will be playing a crucial role in reducing the spread of malaria in their communities,” DG Komolle said.
He emphasized that the utilization of bed nets was an essential measure for safeguarding against mosquito bites, particularly during the height of transmission seasons.
The Deputy Governor urged all members of the community to take the responsibility of preventing diseases seriously in order to promote the health and safety of their families and communities.
DG Komolle discouraged the public against the improper use of mosquito nets, which includes using them to shield chickens or for fencing kitchen gardens.
“Use mosquito nets solely for their intended purpose for the nets to contribute effectively to malaria prevention efforts,” he urged.
He noted that the improper use of resources not only jeopardized public health initiatives designed to combat malaria but also reduced the supply of mosquito nets for those who truly required them for protection.
Komolle expressed his appreciation to the county’s development partners, which included the Global Fund, the National Malaria Control Programme, WHO, UNICEF, media organizations, KEMSA, and community stakeholders, for their joint efforts to mitigate malaria at both the county and national levels.
He highlighted the importance of health partnerships in tackling the effects of malaria on health and well-being, asserting that the collective expertise and resources are vital in the battle against this disease.
The West Pokot County Executive Committee Member for Health and Sanitation Paul Woyakapel stated that the process of marking households to identify beneficiaries for mosquito nets had been finalized and the only remaining task was the distribution of the nets to the identified households, ensuring that the necessary beneficiaries throughout the county received them.
Woyakapel revealed that registered members of the public would receive notifications on their mobile phones indicating where they can collect the nets.
By Anthony Melly
