Sh412m plan for malaria launched

Homa Bay County Government has launched a Sh412 million programme to fight the spread of malaria.

The programme dubbed 'Indoor Residual Spraying' (IRS) is in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAid) and the Ministry of Health.

Homa Bay Health Executive Richard Muga led a team of officials in launching the programme in Homa Bay town yesterday.

Prof Muga who was accompanied by USAid’s Daniel Wacira, Ministry of Health’s Ismail Abbey, County Chief Officer for Health Gerald Akeche and Public Health Director Adel Ottoman said the project would be undertaken in 218,000 structures.

Muga said the exercise would take 24 days.

Over 1,000 residents have been trained to undertake the exercise.

“This exercise will be done in all our eight sub-counties. We are targeting all structures occupied by people including schools, offices and hotels,” Muga said.

He said the exercise would enable them reduce malaria prevalence rate, which currently stands at 27 per cent in the county.

“We have a number of malaria prevention interventions which include use of treated mosquito nets, malaria vaccine and others. This exercise will enable us eliminated malaria,” Muga added.

The county executive committee member warned residents against misuse of the anti-mosquito drug.

He said there are cases of residents using the drug for fishing.

“This drug should not be used for fishing because it is poisonous. Let the drugs be used for the right purpose,” Muga added.

Dr Wacira said they were undertaking a similar programme in the neighbouring Migori County.

“We will also undertake the project in other counties neighbouring Homa Bay and Migori to prevent the malaria in the lake region,” said Wacira.