Alarm as malaria cases in Baringo hit 400 mark

Reuben Rotich, a volunteer community health development personnel, attends to malaria patients in Chesawach village in Tiaty, Baringo county. [Kipsang Joseph/Standard]  

A surge in malaria cases continues to ravage several villages of Tiaty in Baringo County.

The worst-hit villages include Riong’o, Silale, Nasorot, Akwichatis, Naudo, Chemukutan, Lokaukon, Paka, Narang’ule, Natan, Napeikore and Nasiwialet. The outbreak was reported a month ago.

The county is yet to supply antimalarial drugs and mosquito nets to affected areas despite malaria being an endemic disease, with at least 400 cases reported so far. Locals have accused the leadership of failing to find a lasting solution.

Silale Ward MCA Nelson Lotela said they are worried of deaths if action is not taken.

“It is unfortunate that the county has remained reluctant to stock hospitals with drugs even with the increased number of ailing people,” said Lotela.

The Standard established that there are no medicines in hospitals, which are currently overwhelmed by a surge of patients seeking healthcare.

Pregnant women and children below the age of five are the most affected.

Among facilities overwhelmed by numbers is Riong’o and Akwichatis dispensaries.

A nurse at Riong’o, William Loremoi, said lack of antimalarial drugs and mosquito nets has been a major challenge in the fight against the disease caused by mosquito bites.

“Most patients seek services when already in a critical state because they walk tens of kilometres to access the facility. We are overwhelmed by the numbers,” said Loremoi.

Health records at the facility revealed that 200 patients tested for malaria. The tests turned out positive. Symptoms they present include fever, chills, headache, dizziness, vomiting, loss of appetite and muscle ache.

The facility is forced to source for medicine from other facilities like Chemolingot and Tangulbei that are located about 50 kilometres away.

The nurse added that even as a number of patients require referral for specialised care, the service is hampered by lack of transport.

The facility depends on a single ambulance stationed at Chemolingot hospital that is located about 34 kilometres away. In September 2019, cases of malaria were reported in Tiaty and seven people died, with majority of those affected being children below the age of five. Worst hit areas were Atirir, Kulol, Kongor, Akoret, Chesawach and Kapau villages, all in Tirioko Ward.

In 2017, an outbreak of malaria in the sub-county killed at least 20 people. Areas where deaths were reported include Tirioko Kapau, Silale, Akoret, Tangulbay, Mukutani, Churo Amaya, Nginyang, Kolowa, Lokis and Rotu.

Due to lack of functional facilities, locals opt to use traditional herbal medicine to treat diseases. For example, the community applies a special kind of soil on the hair of their children, commonly known as munyan, to cure stomach-related ailments like diarrhoea and flu.

Traditional birth attendants also help women deliver, risking deaths and infections. Chief Officer of Public Health David Cherop attributed the surge in the number of malaria cases to flooding, but did not give a definite figure.

“We do not have an outbreak of the disease, but what we are recording is increased numbers,” said Cherop.

The officer said the county had supplied antimalarial drugs to all affected villages and plans were underway to dispatch mosquito nets.

In February this year, the Ministry of Health directed counties of Baringo and Elgeyo Markwet to strengthen their preventive health systems to address malaria, which is endemic.

Among the measures the counties were expected to put in place include routine distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets and setting up maternal and child welfare clinics.

The directive was given following a surge in number of malaria cases in the county in the months of October, November, December and January. The counties were also expected to set up a diagnosis-based treatment policy and stock hospitals with adequate medicine to manage the disease.

The Health ministry noted that lack of functional hospitals in Baringo that force locals to walk long distances in search of services was a major challenge. According to Baringo Health Report, hospitals are within a seven-kilometre radius against the World Health Organisation’s recommendation of 5km.