Lodwar, 21st February, 2024 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

The County Health and Sanitation Department has partnered with the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to prevent malaria through a seasonal malaria chemo-prevention (SMC) campaign targeting remote areas in the county.

This comes after the review of the proposed operation research, supported by CRS through Moi University, aimed at guiding community-informed models to inform the campaign. The proposed research has also influenced the implementation of the community package of interventions that facilitates the coordination of SMC with other ongoing malaria efforts.

Speaking at the meeting, County Chief Officer for Medical Services Dr. Gilchrist Lokoel emphasised that key components of SMC would address gaps in drug procurement, monitor adverse drug effects and promote social mobilisation and community engagement.

“The health department will establish a steering committee that will oversee the SMC campaign implementation activities such as micro planning, training, pharmacovigilance, and evaluation studies,” he said.

Dr Lokoel urged the researchers to involve the community health promoters (CHPs) as the primary distributors of antimalarial drugs at the household level, focusing on children and expectant mothers.

He further urged the stakeholders who play the key role in the implementation to be part of the microplanning so that the opportunities identified can lead to a successful campaign.

“Incorporating CHPs during drug distribution exercises at the household level and fixed points of access such as schools and churches would be essential for achieving universal healthcare,” he said.

The County Malaria Coordinator, David Ekai, highlighted that the steering committee would identify structural resources that the campaign could leverage and thereafter evaluate its impact after completion.

The Program Manager – at Moi University, Joseph Koech, said that adult vector surveillance using bio-jet traps had been conducted to analyse the mosquito behavior and provide measures to manage and reduce the mosquito population in Ng’iitakito and Nadoto, Turkana Central Sub-county.

Present for the meeting were County Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health Peter Lomorukai, the Senior Health Management Team, and representatives from CRS and Moi University.