Malaria kills 22 as outbreak spreads

At least 22 people, most of them children from Vihiga County have died of malaria in the past one week following an outbreak.

This comes as the county suffers an acute shortage of drugs.

Most of the dead were primary and secondary school students.

Deputy Governor Caleb Amaswache, who is also the County Health Executive, said this yesterday after he made impromptu visits to hospitals and dispensaries in the region.

Mr Amaswache was surprised that some health centres were turning away patients due to lack of malaria drugs.

“Statistics from the facilities I have visited indicate that a total of 22 children died of malaria last week due to lack of drugs. I am also aware that a number of patients were also turned away because of lack of drugs,” said Mr Amaswache.

He said the outbreak across the region has been attributed to the cold season.

Epali, Emusire, Ebusilatsi health centres and Ebusyubi and Ematsoli dispensaries, all in Luanda and Emuhaya sub counties, handled the largest number of casualties.

Doctors at the health centres accused the health department of failing to supply them with the drugs they ordered. At Ebusilatsi health centre, the deputy governor learnt that they were supplied with Actal tablets and anti-venom drugs instead of the anti-malaria medicines they had asked for.

“I am surprised that most of health centres do not have basic drugs such as paracetamol,” he said.

Mr Amaswache said the shortage would be addressed immediately to save lives.

In Kisumu County, a health official has warned of a possible malaria outbreak due to a rise in cases in the neighbouring Vihiga and Kakamega counties.

Chief health officer Ojwang Lusi yesterday urged residents to use mosquito nets to prevent the spread of malaria.

“People have been using mosquito nets for fishing and fencing their gardens. They should make sure they get nets from hospitals and malaria drugs and use them properly”, Dr Lusi said in an interview.

But he said the county had enough malaria drugs and told residents to seek treatment as soon as they start feeling unwell.

“Malaria is already a leading killer disease in Nyanza, a Lakeside region and the parasites get good breeding ground in the water,” said Dr Lusi.

Dr Elizabeth Ogaja, the health executive, said: “It is unfortunate that children are taken to hospital when they are very weak and they die. Parents should go hospital anytime they see the signs,” she said.

Additional reporting by Angela Oketch