Turkana county malaria campaign targets 39,000 children

Ekai Lekanaimoi, a Puch village elder, receives Malaria drugs from Chief Mark Amojong. File, Standard 

The Turkana government has launched a Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign targeting 39,000 children aged between three and 59 months in the Kakuma and Kalobeyei areas.

This initiative is part of an ongoing effort to reduce malaria infection among host communities and refugees.

The campaign is being carried out in partnership with the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) and is supported by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), UNHCR, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS).

During the launch in Kakuma, Turkana Deputy Governor John Erus said that the intervention would strengthen the county's fight against a disease that continues to strain health services.

“Let’s be clear, the initial rollout of the SMC in Turkana Central achieved an efficacy rate of up to 71 per cent. We are hopeful that similar results can be achieved in Kakuma and Kalobeyei, where we currently report up to 7,000 malaria cases every month,” he said.

Dr Erus assured that the drugs administered during the SMC campaign are safe and urged parents and guardians to allow their children to receive the treatment.

The treatment will be given in four monthly cycles from August to December, coinciding with the high-transmission rainy season.

The Deputy Governor explained that the SMC campaign is being implemented alongside other key malaria interventions, including the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, preventive treatment for pregnant women, vector surveillance, spatial repellents, and improved case management.

“Turkana is currently the leading county in SMC implementation in Kenya, and we are ready to share data on the successes we’re recording,” said Erus.

Chief Officer for Medical Services, Gilchrist Lokoel, said that Turkana is one of the counties with a high malaria burden, at 39 per cent prevalence, significantly higher than the national average of 6 per cent.

He said current data shows an incidence of 483 cases per 1,000 people, with more than half of all cases reported in Turkana West.

“As we continue working with our national and international partners, we urge the community to play their role by using mosquito nets, seeking treatment when ill, and supporting the SMC rollout,” said Dr Lokoel.

The launch was attended by officials from the National Malaria Control Programme and representatives from CRS, UNHCR, and the KRCS, who emphasized the importance of collaborative action in the fight against malaria.