Kwale County takes action against malaria with free bed nets initiative
The Kwale County Government has commenced the distribution of free insecticide-treated bed nets to vulnerable households in the coastal county to combat the spread of malaria.
Malaria, a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, is preventable and curable.
Deputy Governor Chirema Kombo, who launched the distribution of mosquito nets, stated that the insecticide-treated bed nets are expected to shield residents from mosquito bites, which serve as the vector responsible for malaria transmission.
Accompanied by Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde and County Health Executive Dr. Francis Gwama, Kombo emphasized the importance of encouraging everyone, especially malaria-vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children under five years, to sleep under the treated nets.
During the flagging-off exercise, Kombo asserted that the Fatuma Achani-led devolved government would strive to increase access to treated mosquito nets for vulnerable households and ensure the general population’s well-being.
He highlighted malaria as a major killer disease in Kenya and a significant public health concern, necessitating the distribution exercise due to the high rate of malaria infections caused by mosquitoes.
Kombo stated that the exercise would span across the county, distributing 560,000 long-lasting insecticide-treated nets to 165,000 households, aimed at preventing the spread of malaria.
“The Kwale County government will wage a total war against malaria in the communities to enhance residents’ health status,” he affirmed, adding that continued sensitization and awareness campaigns against malaria were integral to the devolved government’s efforts.
In collaboration with the National Government, Kombo revealed that the county government aims to distribute mosquito nets in every village with the assistance of ward administrators, chiefs, assistants, and community health promoters to ensure every household receives its share.
“The main objective of the net distribution program is to curtail the spread of malaria, which has had adverse socio-economic effects on the locals for decades,” he explained, underscoring the importance of collective contributions and support.
Kombo stressed that Kwale is among the 28 counties nationwide burdened by malaria and disclosed the devolved unit’s commitment to achieving 100 per cent coverage for net distribution and usage by the vulnerable population.
He reiterated that malaria remains a public health problem in the country, preventable and curable through collaborative efforts such as sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets.
Highlighting the distribution during the long rainy season, Orinde emphasized the need for households to take advantage of the exercise to enhance their health status and ensure sound sleep at night, protected from malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
Orinde expressed the national government’s commitment to preventative healthcare and urged proper net usage to break the malaria transmission cycle, discouraging improper uses of the nets provided free of charge.
He emphasized that the treated net distribution campaign is a national effort spearheaded by the Ministry of Health, aimed at providing enough life-saving nets to protect Kenyans from the deadly disease.
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