Malaria outbreak kills 7 children as 100 are admitted

What you need to know:

  • At least 100 children under five have also been admitted to the hospital.
  • “We have talked all to nurses who were away to resume duty due to the high number of children being admitted each day,” he said Tuesday.
  • “I call on patients to utilise the drugs we have given them and those who feel symptoms persisting should not hesitate to pay us a visit,” he added.

Staff at the Kakamega County Referral Hospital are working around the clock to contain a malaria outbreak that has already killed seven children.

At least 100 children under five have also been admitted to the hospital.

The county government has recalled all health workers on leave to boost efforts to combat the disease.

The hospital’s Medical superintendent, Dr Augustine Ajevi, said all patients, especially children, are under strict observation.

“We have talked all to nurses who were away to resume duty due to the high number of children being admitted each day,” he said Tuesday.
“Despite challenges, we are doing everything possible to contain the situation,” Dr Ajevi added.

He said the hospital has received additional drugs that are helping them cope with the situation.

“Those admitted are responding well to treatment,” Dr Ajevi added.

“I call on patients to utilise the drugs we have given them and those who feel symptoms persisting should not hesitate to pay us a visit,” he added.

Seven children died at the hospital on Saturday night following a serious malaria outbreak that has hit the region. The children were all bellow five years.

Dr Ajevi said the children were brought in while already in critical condition.

“For the last one month, we have been admitting more children due to malaria. Most of them have been brought in, in critical condition. We call on parents to be more vigilant to save lives,” said Dr Ajevi.

ONE MONTH

He said cases of severe malaria had gone up in the last one month due to the onset of the rains.

County executive for Health Mrs Penina Mukabane has asked parents to stop trying to treat their children at home.

“The deaths could have been avoided if the parents had visited health facilities as soon as possible,” said Mrs Mukabane.

She said one million mosquito nets had been distributed to families. “We will scale up the numbers following the outbreak of malaria,” she added.

“Parents who do not bring their children for medical attention until their condition is bad have worsened the situation.”