The government’s concerted efforts to combat malaria have seen the country make strides in the fight against the disease.
Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr Nakhumicha S. Wafula also says the government has made progress in distributing over 16 million mosquito nets, carrying out indoor residue spraying of mosquitos and ensuring that anti-malaria drugs are available in all public health facilities.
Further, the CS said – the government has also hired community health volunteers, now known as community health promoters, to help boost preventive healthcare.
She spoke during the World Malaria Day commemoration in Nyamira County on April 25, 2023.
The CS also called on governors to invest more in their health departments so as to improve services and urged them to engage in dialogue with health unions to prevent strikes.
The event also saw Dr Nakhumicha who was accompanied by her Education counterpart Ezekiel Machogu, Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Dr Josphine Mburu, and World Health Organization (WHO) country representative among others promise to equip the Ekerenyo Sub County Hospital.
They further pledged to seek partners to help upgrade the over 40-year-old Nyamira County Referral Hospital, emphasizing the importance of providing quality healthcare to all Kenyans.
With malaria remaining a significant health burden in Kenya, causing an estimated 4.4 million cases and 12,000 deaths in 2019, the government’s efforts have contributed to a reduction in the malaria burden from 8% in 2015 to 6% in 2020.
New challenges
As Kenya continues to invest and work towards a malaria-free future, it’s clear that progress is being made, the Health CS noted.
But despite the progress made, new challenges threaten to blunt Kenya’s successes.
The World Health Organization Kenya representative Dr Abdourahmane Diallo, said the emergence of an invasive malaria mosquito, Anopheles stephensi, threatens the increased risk of malaria transmission to urban populations.
Additionally, a reduction in malaria funding and threats of resistance to medicines and insecticides also pose challenges.
“To address these challenges, the WHO calls for increased investments in domestic financing, multi-sectoral collaborations, and community engagement and participation,” Dr Diallo said.
The WHO also called for the expansion of evidence-based interventions, decentralization of programs to the county and community levels, and incorporation of human rights and gender equity.
