Kemsa issues free mosquito nets in the war on malaria

Birds chirping, cows mooing and children playing in the background are the sights and sights that greet you at a village in Baringo county. 

The serenity of the atmosphere belies the scourge of mosquitoes biding their time to raid residents while they sleep.

Mosquitoes are known to cause malaria and in many cases, deaths are recorded by the Ministry of Health.

Resident Ivy Kibiagan says the disease has wreaked havoc in her family. Speaking in her hut, she says floodwaters are the source of her woes.

"This my home. When we receive heavy rains, it gets flooded a lot. You will see water everywhere," Kibiagan says as she switches on the light in her house.

"When it starts to rain, we fear the effects of the rain. Because we know that we will soon be hearing the buzzing sounds of mosquitoes." 

And that is how her troubles begin, the mother of three says. 

"I have been making countless trips to the hospital to get malaria medication for my children. We need to protect ourselves against the mosquitoes," she says.

COSTLY TREATMENT

Kibiagan has spent a lot of money going to the hospital. She has a five-year-old child with lupus. Mayo Clinic defines lupus as a disease that occurs when your body's immune system attacks your own tissues and organs.

Treating the child and also treating malaria has put a lot of pressure on Kibiagan.

With malaria cases rising in Baringo, the county has so far received 290,000 free mosquito nets in three subcounties as at August 27, in partnership with the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority.

"Every month, I use at least Sh30,000 on medication for the child with lupus. Plus other expenses that we can get when seeking malaria medication," Kibiagan says.

"But now that we have received nets, we will protect ourselves against mosquitos and the disease will not weigh us down anymore." 

Zulfe Yawa, an elder from Kilifi county, says sometimes, lack of malaria medications in hospitals leads to deaths. 

"During the rainy season, like April, when the grass grows, malaria cases are very high because of mosquitoes. We suffer a lot," she says. 

She could not hide her joy after receiving nets from the county.

"We would like them to come and distribute again in one year. Right now, malaria is our biggest problem. Because of the lack of nets, our children below five years are the most affected," she says.

Yawa says they last received nets some five years ago. She promised that they will help distribute the new nets from house to house and during baraza meetings, and also educate the locals on how to use them.

The elder urged Kenya Medical Supplies Authority to distribute the nets every year.

Another Kilifi resident, Nyale Mwakuni, thanked Kemsa, the government and the Global Fund at large for the mosquito nets.

He termed malaria “our main disease”. "Malaria has troubled us so much," he said.

"I have eight kids. Currently, I don't have any nets. I had been given others like two years ago. I'm urging the government after every two years, you come again." 

PROBLEM SOLVING

Now as the country races to end the scourge of malaria, the Ministry of Health, through the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority, has distributed over a million free mosquito nets.

This has been done through a programme supported by Global Fund under the National Malaria Control Programme.

The programme, which has seen last-mile distribution of free mosquito nets, aims to distribute 10.9 million nets across 22 counties to boost preventive measures.

MoH says focusing on preventing malaria will save the country millions of shillings that are used to treat the disease.

The saved money, according to the ministry, will go a long way in boosting other health services across the country.

Kemsa says the last-mile distribution of mosquito nets started in January 2024 and has covered counties including Bungoma, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Lamu and Turkana.

Others are Busia, Kisii, Kisumu, Kwale, Mombasa, Migori, Nyamira, Siaya, Taita Taveta and Tana River counties.

Currently, distribution is ongoing in Baringo, Kirinyaga and Turkana counties.

Also set to receive are Nandi and Kericho counties. In total, 20 counties identified as malaria endemic are receiving the free treated mosquito nets.

Each net is expected to serve for three years, keeping mosquitoes away, hence saving thousands from the malaria scourge.

Global Fund's main objective with malaria is to reduce incidence and deaths from the disease by 75 per cent by 2027.

Speaking to the media at Kemsa depo in Nakuru town, Kemsa CEO Waqo Ejersa expressed joy over their involvement in the last-mile distribution of nets in 18 counties.

Kemsa is giving four nets per household to ensure that more than a million people are protected.

They are targeting pregnant women and children below five years with nets that can last for three years.

Waqo acknowledged the role of the Global Fund and the US government in the initiative, saying they have supported it through the National Treasury and the Ministry of Health.

"They have helped us distribute 10.9 million nets to about 22 counties. Four counties have been served through other mechanisms but we are going to 18 counties," he said.

Speaking during the flagging off of the nets at Muserechi dispensary, Baringo, Deputy Governor Felix Maiyo said the three counties have a population of 474,000.

He said Eldama Ravine subcounty will get 95,000 nets, Mogotio 72,000 and Baringo South 80,000.

Eldama Ravine was picked as it is prone to highland malaria, while Baringo South is prone to the disease due to the irrigation projects in the region, the deputy governor said.

Mogotio had also been identified as malaria endemic.

Koibatek also has highland malaria, which happens in seasons, while Marigat is surrounded by irrigation scheme projects that lead to malaria due to stagnant waters.

At the Kerio belt, Tiaty East and Tiaty West upsurges are experienced at times.

In Tiaty, malaria is a result of mosquito bites during nomadic travels.

Maiyo decried the high cost of treating malaria, hence the need to have more prevention initiatives.

"So I call upon the people of Baringo and generally the people of this country to follow the preventive measures," he said.

He said most affected are pregnant women and children, noting that proper mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that only those duly registered and vetted will receive the nets.

The county administration confirmed that Tiaty West has had an upsurge of malaria, with almost 40 per cent of the population having malaria.

It said it has sent the commodities needed to solve the problem.

COAST, NYANZA NETS 

On July 9, then acting Kemsa CEO Andrew Mulwa and Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro flagged off 1,054,000 treated mosquito nets for distribution in the seven Kilifi subcounties.

Kemsa said the county, which had 679 posts, is classified as one of the malaria endemic areas that need mosquito nets for the prevention of malaria.

Mung'aro acknowledged the initiative, thanking Kemsa for the last-mile distribution initiative.

"It makes it easier for us to hand the nets over to the communities," Mung'aro said.

Kemsa distribution manager Isaac Mwele explained the process of reception and distribution of the nets.

The nets were dropped off at five distribution points, including Malava Subcounty Hospital (four containers), Mutodia Godowns (12 containers), Makio Social Health Centre and Mombasa depot.

Each drop-off point has a specific number of nets and then household registration is done by the National Malaria Control Programme.

Following this, the total number of distribution posts is done for the last-mile distribution initiative. 

Kaloleni subcounty malaria control coordinator Purity Katama said there have been fewer cases since they started receiving nets every three years.

There have, however, been areas reporting high malaria cases, like Kaloleni ward and Mwana Mwimba.

Kaloleni health subcounty manager Peter Mwangome said the prevalence of malaria in the area is more than five per cent.

He added that they are working towards preventing malaria in the hotspot areas, including covering 36,213 households.

"There is a very big importance in terms of the usage of treated nets. We have insisted community members sleep under these nets because when they do, we prevent malaria by more than 75 per cent," he said.

On March 21, Mulwa and Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir flagged off 932,284 malaria mosquito nets to be distributed in all the six subcounties.

Kwale county got 668,779 nets, while the other coastal regions received the nets as follows: Lamu (111,053), Tana River (243,770) and Taita Taveta (262,865).

In January, Kemsa oversaw the last-mile distribution of mosquito nets, issuing 941,368 nets in Kisii and 449,974 nets in Nyamira county. 

Public Health PS Mary Muriuki said the nets, long-lasting insecticidal nets, stand as a highly effective tool in malaria prevention and control programmes.

She said the distribution of nets to households has shown tremendous progress in the fight against malaria, with a significant drop in malaria prevalence nationally from eight per cent in 2015 to six per cent in 2020, as per the Kenya Malaria Indicator Survey.

"In Kenya, malaria has imposed a heavy burden on the people, with about 6.7 million clinical cases and 4,000 deaths reported in 2022," she said.

"Children under five years and pregnant mothers continue to bear the brunt of this preventable disease."

In Kisumu, residents received 858,658 nets, Siaya (738,008) and in Migori county (602,658).

The latest Kenya malaria indicator survey report indicates that about four million Kenyans contract malaria disease, while more than 10,000 people die of the disease annually.

Kenya and the Global Fund have been partners since 2003, with cumulative investments of $2 billion (Sh258 billion) to date in the fight against AIDS, TB, malaria and Covid-19, and to strengthen systems for health.

According to Global Fund, the country has achieved a decline in malaria prevalence from 8.2 per cent in 2015 to 6 per cent in 2023.

Since 2014, nearly 56 million long-lasting insecticidal nets have been distributed.