Government distributes mosquito nets to curb malaria in Lamu

The national government through the Ministry of Health has launched a mass distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets-LLIN across Lamu County in a bid to curb malaria.

The exercise, targeting all the over 37,000 registered households across Lamu County, was presided over by the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Investment Promotion, Abubakar Hassan.

The launching event was held at the Lamu County Headquarters in Mokowe.

At least 113,000 nets will be distributed in the entire county to curb the spread of malaria, especially during this period when a heavy downpour is experienced in various parts of the country.

Speaking at the event, Hassan, who represented the PS for Health and Public Standards, Mary Muthoni, said the plan is to distribute the nets to all the high-burden counties in the country in an intensified war against malaria.

The drive targets counties in the Lake and Coast endemic regions with Lamu being among those benefiting from the program.

Hassan urged beneficiaries to use the nets for the intended purposes.

“We are urging the beneficiaries to use these nets correctly and consistently to protect yourselves against mosquito bites, the primary mode of malaria transmission,” said Hassan.

Lamu Deputy Governor, Raphael Munyua, urged residents to remain vigilant during this period of heavy rains, to keep malaria and diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and bilharzia at bay.

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

Lamu County Executive for Health Mbarak Bahjaj said 220,000 residents have been registered to receive the mosquito nets.

“We have 113,000 mosquito nets that will be distributed to 220,000 people, bearing in mind that the ratio is one net for two people. Apart from Malaria, the nets will also help prevent dengue fever spread,” said Bahjaj.

He said the county had trained healthcare workers, Community Health Promoters (CHPs), and village elders to help distribute the nets.

The ministry is targeting 22 high-burden counties in the 2023/24 campaign and aims to distribute 15.3 million nets, supported by the Global Fund and the US President’s Malaria Initiative.

Long-lasting insecticidal nets-LLINs stand as a highly effective tool in malaria prevention and control programmes.

The distribution of LLINs to households has shown tremendous progress in the fight against malaria, with a significant drop in malaria prevalence from 8 per cent to 6 per cent nationally as per the Kenya Malaria Indicator Survey 2015 and 2020 respectively.