Kenya scores big in war against malaria
What you need to know:
- Malaria deaths fell by 47 per cent globally over the 2000/2013 period and by 54 per cent in Africa where about 90 per cent of all such deaths occur.
- Further, analysis across Sub-Saharan Africa revealed that the number of people infected fell from 173 million in 2000 to 128 million in 2013.
- About 1.6 million Kenyans are living with HIV, but just over six hundred thousand get antiretrovirals. HIV prevalence rate currently stands at 5.6 per cent.
Despite over two million cases of malaria infections recorded in Kenya in 2013, there were only 135 deaths, the World Malaria Report, 2014 shows.
In 2010, there were 26,017 malaria deaths in Kenya.
Access to treated nets, improved testing and effective treatment of malaria are credited with the success in the fight against the disease.
Malaria-related deaths have steadily fallen since 2010. Even then, Kenya is ranked 14 in Africa with the highest number of infections in 2013.
This ranks it among 18 countries that accounted for 90 per cent of the infections in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) report notes that despite the high global numbers, malaria-related deaths have dropped considerably due to the above interventions.
Malaria deaths fell by 47 per cent globally over the 2000/2013 period and by 54 per cent in Africa where about 90 per cent of all such deaths occur.
Further, analysis across Sub-Saharan Africa revealed that the number of people infected fell from 173 million in 2000 to 128 million in 2013.
In a bid to neutralise the killer disease, the private sector on Tuesday pledged to help the government fund treatment for Malaria, HIV/Aids and tuberculosis, which together cause over 100,000 deaths in Kenya every year.
The Government, PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Global Fund will support health workers training.
“We are looking at financial contributions, skills sharing as well as coordination in existing programmes focused on the three diseases.
HIGHLY INFECTIOUS
“We need more medicines, awareness and new strategies to reduce deaths due to preventable illnesses,” Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said during the launch of the partnership on Tuesday.
About 1.6 million Kenyans are living with HIV, but just over six hundred thousand get antiretrovirals. HIV prevalence rate currently stands at 5.6 per cent.
On tuberculosis, Kenya is ranked 13 globally among the high burden countries of the highly infectious bacterial disease.
PwC Country and Regional Partner Anne Eriksson said the private sector was committed to eradicating the infections and that “the partnership was an opportunity for a united approach.
