Lodwar – August 20, 2025 (Public Communication and Media relations)
The County Secretary hosted a team from the National Malaria Control Program, Catholic Relief Services, and Moi/Duke Universities to provide current status on the recently piloted Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention.
This is an innovative malaria prevention strategy, set to be implemented across the county.
SMC has had research studies on utilizing bio-jet insect traps to study mosquitoes. This is aimed at developing a preventive measure to reduce malaria during peak transmission periods, especially the August-October rains.
The campaign will majorly involve five cycles of administering anti-malarial drugs to children aged between three to 59 months during this rainy season.
According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) data,Turkana County qualifies for SMC, given its high seasonal malaria prevalence burden of 39%, with mostly children affected.
Speaking at the meeting, County Secretary Amb Richard Ekai highlighted that approximately 80% of cases occur within a 5-month period, and 30% of cases are of children under the age of five.
“There is a need to prioritise these future generations in order to achieve a Malaria-free county,” he said.
The CS also shared that the last cycle exercise was very successful, surpassing its target of 40,123 children aged between three to 59 months.
County Executive for Health and Sanitation, Dr Epem Esekon highlighted that the county is intensifying plans to conduct the upcoming third round of SMC, with an aim to integrate other services, such as nutrition and immunization.
Thr CECM also demonstrated that findings from the last round of SMC indicated a 70% reduction of malaria transmission rate among children aged three to 59 months. This, he said, has informed new targets set to achieve impactful healthy outcomes in the next SMC.
Prof Wendy O’meara of Duke University reported that 97% of eligible children were reached at least once, and 71% received all 5 cycles, while 12% experienced side effects.
The research was conducted jointly by Moi University and Duke University.
She also added that the SMC implementation commenced in June and ending in October to ensure every child at the last mile has been reached.
Also present were seniors members of the County Health Management Team.
