KENYA—In a unified effort to combat malaria and bolster public health, Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir of Mombasa County, alongside Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni of the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, have launched separate initiatives for the mass distribution of mosquito nets.
This net distribution campaign is part of a nationwide drive aimed at distributing over 15 million nets across 22 counties.
In Mombasa County alone, it is anticipated that more than 941,000 treated mosquito nets will be distributed to 300,000 households.
Governor Nassir presided over the event on March 21, 2024, which included the ceremonial flagging off of lorries transporting a consignment of 932,000 mosquito nets received from the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA).
The event was graced by prominent dignitaries, including Andrew Mulwa, the CEO of Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), the Health Chief Officer, and other county officials.
During the flag-off event, Hon Nasser announced that mosquito nets would be supplied to all 30 wards in the county, as well as all county health facilities, to ensure adequate protection against the spread of malaria.
In a simultaneous event, Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, accompanied by the Global Fund Country Team led by Senior Fund Portfolio Manager Paul McCarrick, conducted oversight of the distribution posts in Mombasa.
During the event, the Principal Secretary emphasized the importance of community sensitization by local leaders to ensure the effective utilization of the nets in the fight against malaria.
This project is funded by the Global Fund and USAID/PMIAs.
Distribution updates as of Thursday, March 21, 2024, reveal successful operations in Kisauni.
Meanwhile, distribution in Mvita and Changamwe is scheduled to commence on Friday, March 22, 2024, followed by Jomvu on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Nyali’s distribution is slated for Monday, March 24, 2024, and Likoni’s for Tuesday, March 25, 2024.
During the March 24 distribution event in Nyali, Mombasa County’s mass net distribution effort made significant headway, providing 606,985 people with long-lasting treated insecticidal nets. This coverage rate represents 34.26% of the county’s total registered population of 1,771,487.
Supervised by Dr. Joseph Lenai, Director of Preventive and Promotive Health, and supported by the Global Fund Country team led by Lisa Butler, Senior Program Officer, and Veerle Coignez, the distribution exercise aimed at ensuring effective distribution.
Dr. Abdullahi Daleno, Mombasa County’s Chief Officer of Public Health, has long been instrumental in coordinating distribution activities in Jomvu Subcounty.
This initiative underscores Mombasa County’s commitment to transitioning towards a preventive healthcare approach.
By prioritizing proactive measures like mass net distribution, the county aims to diminish the prevalence of vector-borne diseases and enhance overall public health outcomes.
KEMSA will manage the distribution process from drop-off to post, and cooperation at receiving posts has been sought to speed up the process.
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