Homa Bay County celebrates milestone in fight against Malaria

Homa Bay health workers in a procession during the World Malaria Day Celebrations at Kadongo trading center in Rachuonyo East Sub-county on April 25, 2023. [James Omoro, Standard]

Homa Bay County has achieved a milestone in the fight against Malaria.

According to the County Chief Officer for Health Kevin Osuri and the County Malaria coordinator Philip Mbom, the latest Kenya Malaria Indicator Survey (KMIS) revealed that malaria prevalence in the county reduced to 3.6 per cent from 17 per cent in 2017.

This was revealed during celebration to mark the World Malaria Day at Kadongo trading center in Rachuonyo East Sub-county on Tuesday.

Dr Osuri said the milestone had been made due to various interventions put in place to reduce spread of the disease caused by mosquitoes.

Homa Bay is one of the counties where malaria vaccination has been taking place for pilot purposes.

Osuri attributed the reduced Malaria prevalence to improved behaviour change where many people are now complying with prevention measures.

"The KMIS of 2020 revealed that the malaria prevalence rate in Homa Bay County reduced from 17 per cent in 2017 to 3.6. This is a good achievement that we should always maintain," Osuri said.

Osuri attributed the achievement to various interventions such as the malaria vaccination and indoor residual spraying (IRS). The IRS focuses on spraying buildings with an insecticide which kills mosquitoes, a vector which spreads malaria.

"We in partnership with other partners plan to roll out malaria vaccination in all sub-counties in Homa Bay," Osuri said.

The IRS is currently going on in the county. The current exercise started on April 12 and will end on May 9.

Osuri urged residents to allow officers undertaking the IRS discharge their duties. He urged them to avoid myths surrounding the IRS.

"There are cases where some families bar people who are undertaking IRS from accessing their houses. Let us desist from that act because the drug used does not cause any damage. Let us avoid myths such as the IRS causes bedbugs," Osuri said.

Mbom urged expectant mothers to embrace the culture of attending clinics regularly to enhance the fight against malaria in the county.

"Clinics are very beneficial to expectant mothers. They are given drugs and mosquito nets free of charge for preventing malaria. Let mothers visit clinics regularly for prenatal and postnatal care," Mbom said.

He told residents to adhere to the preventive measures stipulated by the government to keep malaria at bay in the county.