Vestergaard, LifeStraw expand their malaria and safe water initiatives to protect vulnerable children in Kenya

KENYA—Global health companies Vestergaard and LifeStraw have strengthened their partnership in Kenya with a new annual commitment to donate 1,000 PermaNet® Dual long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets to vulnerable communities in western Kenya.

The initiative builds on more than a decade of collaboration at Emusanda Health Centre in Kakamega County and supports broader efforts to improve maternal and child health through integrated malaria prevention and access to safe water.

The partnership traces its roots to 2009, when Vestergaard rehabilitated Emusanda Health Centre in Lurambi and transformed it into a community facility providing primary healthcare, maternal services, paediatric care, and HIV treatment.

Since LifeStraw became an independent company in 2020, it has continued to expand the facility by constructing a maternity ward and strengthening antenatal and postnatal services.

At the same time, Vestergaard has supplied mosquito nets to mothers delivering at the facility and to families with children under five seeking care.

According to the company, more than 6,300 PermaNet nets have already been distributed through the health centre since the programme began.

Each eligible family also receives a LifeStraw household water purifier.

In addition, LifeStraw’s local teams help bridge staffing shortages and provide essential medicines, enabling the facility to offer services around the clock.

Combining safe water and malaria prevention

The new donation programme comes as malaria continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Kenya.

While insecticide-treated mosquito nets remain one of the most effective malaria prevention tools, emerging insecticide resistance has created a need for more advanced technologies.

PermaNet Dual was developed to address this challenge by combining two active ingredients—chlorfenapyr and deltamethrin—which target mosquitoes through different modes of action.

 Studies have shown that dual-active-ingredient nets can provide greater protection in areas affected by insecticide resistance.

According to data cited by Vestergaard, insecticide-treated nets accounted for 72% of malaria cases prevented globally between 2000 and 2024, while dual-active-ingredient nets, such as PermaNet Dual, helped prevent an estimated 40 million malaria cases between 2019 and 2024.

Under the expanded partnership, the nets will be distributed not only through healthcare facilities but also to boarding schools that care for orphans and children living with disabilities, extending protection to some of the region’s most vulnerable populations.

LifeStraw’s Give Back programme has already delivered safe drinking water solutions to schools and communities across Kenya and other countries, reaching more than 14 million children.

Industry efforts intensify as malaria burden persists

The announcement comes amid renewed global efforts to combat malaria.

In April 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified the first malaria treatment specifically designed for newborns and young infants and approved new rapid diagnostic tests capable of detecting parasite strains that evade conventional testing.

WHO estimates that malaria caused 282 million cases and approximately 610,000 deaths worldwide in 2024, highlighting the continued need for prevention and treatment innovations.

Meanwhile, Vestergaard has continued to expand its malaria prevention activities globally.

The company recently advanced plans for large-scale production of PermaNet Dual through a new manufacturing venture in Nigeria, aimed at increasing access to next-generation mosquito nets across Africa.

Commenting on the new commitment in Kenya, Amar Ali, CEO of Vestergaard, said LifeStraw’s work on the ground continues to identify critical healthcare gaps and demonstrate how targeted interventions can protect vulnerable children.

He noted that formalising the annual donation programme reinforces both companies’ commitment to helping communities access essential tools for healthier lives.

Alison Hill, CEO of LifeStraw, said access to safe water and effective malaria prevention remains fundamental to community health.

She explained that combining household water purification with next-generation mosquito nets enables the organisations to deliver complementary interventions that improve health and educational outcomes for children and families across the communities they serve.