The mass mosquito nets distribution exercise in Busia County targeting 843,000 people has been launched with two people in a family expected to share one net, with the registration exercise preceding the distribution of the nets. County Executive Committee Member for Health and Sanitation Dr Maurice Siminyu flagged off the truck which will traverse the County ferrying officials who will educate the residents on the need to register first before the nets are delivered to them.
Dr Siminyu said the County Government will make everything possible to ensure malaria is contained in the County, adding that community health volunteers will be going around the County registering the recipients.
He warned those who use mosquito nets for fishing and for vegetable farms fencing to stop the habit saying it will discourage sponsors from supporting the health sector in the County.
Senior manager Population Services Kenya Denis Mwambi said the program is being funded by USAID and Global Fund through Population Services (K) and National Malaria Program.
The exercise comes a day after Busia was ranked the second best County after Kwale in the advancing the fight against malaria, with the prevalence rate coming down from 30% to 15%.
Mwambi said during the first cycle of net distribution in 2015, Malaria prevalence rate in Busia County was 30%. “We have achieved this impressive target due to people getting instant treatment due to the availability of malaria drugs and people sleeping under nets. A total of 470, 000 mosquito nets will be distributed across the County after the five-day registration exercise that will run up to Sunday,” he said.
County Director Public Health Dr Melsa Lutomia urged residents to allow CHVs to access their homes to facilitate the registration exercise.
Photos: Busia County CEC for Health and Sanitation Dr Maurice Siminyu flagging off the track during the launch of the Mass net distribution outside the Governor’s office on Wednesday.