NAIROBI, KENYA, JAN 25- More than 6.6 million people in the lake and coast region are set to benefit from the Long-Lasting Insecticidal Mosquito Net (LLINs) distribution between January and February. The exercise commenced on January Monday 22nd and is expected to end on February 3rd, 2024.
In a statement, the principal secretary State Department of Public Health Mary Muriuki has spotlighted that residents in Taita Taveta, Kwale, Mombasa, Siaya, Kisumu, and Migori will benefit.
“This week, the National Steering Committee and National Malaria Control programme have embarked on preparing the next six counties for distribution,” the PS stated.
The total number of nets that will be distributed is more 4.2 million across households and aims to protect the most vulnerable specifically women and children.
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The exercise commenced with data validation, county, and sub-county sensitization, training of health care workers, training of community health workers (CHPs) and village elders, followed by validation and social mobilization for household registration being the first procedures.
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According to the Ministry of Health, twenty-two counties have been identified as high-risk areas for malaria, and are set to benefit from the nets.
These counties include Kisumu, Siaya, Busia, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Lamu, Kilifi, Tana River, Kwale, Taita Taveta, Mombasa, Bungoma, Kakamega, Vihiga, Homabay, West Pokot, Turkana, Trans Nzoia, Narok, Baringo, Kirinyaga.
The ministry, in collaboration with the Global Fund and U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative through the United States Agency, aims to distribute 15.3 million nets to these counties.
Ten more counties which are yet to be specified are also set to benefit from the program between March and April and county leaders have been urged to make adequate preparations for a smooth sail.
