Kenya pushes nets to fight malaria

• About 28 million Kenyans are at risk of contracting malaria, which accounts for 20 per cent hospital admissions, says Health Assistant minister.

A national malaria campaign aimed at encouraging Kenyans to sleep under treated mosquito nets every night was launched on Thursday.

The mbu nje,sisi ndani initiative aims at creating national awareness on the importance of consistent use of the nets during all seasons.

“Though mosquito net ownership has increased, their actual use remains relatively low,” said Elizabeth Juma head of the Division of Malaria Control.

Recent statistics reveal that only 48 per cent of Kenyans slept under nets every night compared to 56 per cent who owned them.

“We need to take the fight against malaria to higher levels both collectively and individually,” said Dr Juma.

Assistant Minister for Public Health James Gesami stressed the need to promote the use of the nets in malaria prone areas to eradicate the disease in the country.

Dr Gesami said that so far around 18 million treated nets had been distributed leading to a 44 per cent decline in malaria mortality cases of children under the age of five.

About 28 million Kenyans are at risk of contracting malaria, which accounts for 20 per cent hospital admissions, the Assistant minister said.

Dr Gesami said the government would scale up the use of the nets by all family members through the public health clinics countrywide.

He added the government had put in place measures to acquire more nets and malarial medication in preparation for the El Nino that is predicted to last till next year January.

The campaign is sponsored by Population Services International sponsors in collaboration with the government, the World Health Organisation and other medical research companies.