An upsurge of new malaria cases has been reported in health facilities in Turkana county.
Data from 12 health facilities across Loima, Lokiriama, and Turkana Central Subcounties revealed an increase in the cases.
This data has been verified by a team from the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme under the National Ministry of Health.
The FELTP team disseminated the data to the County Executive for Health and Sanitation Longole Wangiros and the Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health Cathra Abdi.
The team spent eight days in the field collecting the data.
The FELTP team leader, Raphael Nyawa, said they observed 13 new malaria cases within two hours at the Naotin Dispensary in Turkana Central.
According to the Kenya Health Information System, Turkana reported 76,516 malaria cases in June and July 2024.
Longole Wangiros said the County Department of Health and Sanitation has renewed focus on data-driven strategies to arrest the situation.
“Our decisions should now be firmly based on data, ensuring that our resources are allocated where they are most needed,” Wangiros said.
He said on-the-job training on recording keeping was required as the dissemination had revealed discrepancies in the skills among the staff.
In response to the upsurge, the Turkana Health Department is seeking to strengthen the Community Epidemic Preparedness and Response to better manage the upsurges.
The County Malaria Coordinator, David Ekai, said the programme had conducted mentorship sessions aimed at improving the diagnosis and classification of malaria cases in some of the facilities.
