Kemsa to distribute one million mosquito nets in Kilifi

KEMSA CEO Dr. Andrew Mulwa during an interview on the new operations at his offices in Embakasi, Nairobi on May 07, 2024. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

The national government has intensified efforts to eradicate malaria in Kilifi county by distributing treated mosquito nets to households.

Through the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) and the Global Fund, the government will distribute 10.9 million nets in 22 counties where malaria is most prevalent.

In Kilifi county, the agency has identified 679 distribution posts and targets to issue households with at least 1,054,000 mosquito nets in seven sub counties.

Kemsa Chief Executive Officer Andrew Mulwa and Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro flagged off the exercise at the latter’s official residence in Kilifi town.

In Bundacho village, Kilifi South sub county, Nyale Mwakuni, a father of eight, said that the treated mosquito nets will go a long way in eradicating malaria in the village.

“Malaria has troubled us so much, and the nets I was given two years ago were all torn. I am urging the government to distribute the nets after every two years,” Mwakuni said.

He said the traditional mitigation measures that residents use like consuming boiled neem leaves concoction to combat malaria have not helped much.

“When we contract malaria, we boil the leaves of the neem tree (mwarubaini) and give the concoction to everyone in the household to drink. It used to work in the past. It is something we inherited from our parents and grandparents,” he said.

Mwakuni blamed malaria for underdevelopment in the area saying the sick spend a lot of time in bed, hence are unable to support their families.

“Economically, we are affected, especially during malaria outbreak and people spend more time seeking treatment instead of going about their daily chores such as farming. With these treated nets, then we are going to be free of malaria as a Bundacho village,” he said.

His sentiments were echoed by his wife, Anzazi Nyale, who said that when children get infected with malaria, the women have to abandon their work to take care of them.

Nyale explained that they adopted a practice passed on from generation to generation, such as boiling the neem tree leaves and burning the leaves or the bark of the tree, which produces smoke that drives away mosquitoes, but this has not been effective.

“When infected, the children present symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting, and when I did not have money to buy drugs, I used to burn the mwarubaini tree leaves and bark to drive away the mosquitos. I also used to boil the leaves, which I gave my sick children and bathe them with it,” she said.

Kennedy Kaingu, a clinical officer at Chasimba Health Centre, said that malaria prevalence in the area was high, with five to seven in ten people getting infected depending on the season.

“The malaria prevalence in this place is quite high depending on the season, and that happens because many people are not using nets, and in children and pregnant mothers, the numbers are high,” he said.

Kaingu said the area has a population of 18,000 people and they intend to distribute 2,155 nets based on the households.

“We are getting a big burden for the children under five and pregnant mothers, and I advocate for early diagnosis to prevent severe cases. But so far, I have not recorded any deaths related to malaria,” he said.

Dr Mulwa said that the distribution of nets was being implemented under the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) and the exercise is expected to be complete in 22 counties by the end of July.

“This programme is a testament to our capacity for detailed planning, logistical execution, and the successful navigation of complex challenges, reflecting our dedication to public health and welfare,” he said.

He said Kirinyaga, Baringo, Turkana, West Pokot, Narok, and Trans Nzoia counties, will receive mosquito nets before the end of August.

Counties that have received mosquito nets include Kisii, Nyamira, Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, Tana River, Lamu, Taita Taveta, Kwale and Mombasa.

Mulwa led Kemsa staff in distributing mosquito nets to some families in Bundacho village, one of the 679 distribution posts in the seven sub-counties.

“We are here to bring you free mosquito nets through Global Fund initiative to ensure you and your family live free of mosquitoes,” he said at Bundacho Primary School.

Governor Mung'aro thanked Kemsa for the last-mile distribution initiative.

“We are grateful for what Kemsa is doing in this last-mile distribution initiative that makes it easier for us to hand the nets over to the communities so that we can eradicate malaria,” he said.