Primary health care and mass vaccination key in the malaria fight

A bed covered with a net in a wood bungalow bedroom. [Getty Images]

The World Health Organisation estimates that 249 million people fell ill with malaria in 2022, with 608,000 deaths. Most of these deaths were reported in 29 countries, including Kenya. Between 2010 and 2015, the world recorded a steady decline in both malaria incidence and deaths. However, the numbers surged with the onset of Covid-19 due to a disrupted global supply chain of pharmaceuticals and the drift of health care to mitigate the pandemic.

As we mark this year's World Malaria Day tomorrow, evidence in the country shows that it is not just a disease. Malaria is an enduring enemy that has plagued the nation for years. Despite widespread awareness and strides made in recent years to control the disease, it remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality especially among children under five and pregnant women. The 2020 Kenya Malaria Indicator Survey revealed that seven in ten Kenyans live in areas that predispose them to the risk. The report also showed that malaria-related cases accounted for 13 to 15 per cent of outpatient consultations.