Turkana, Kisumu Migori and Siaya counties have the highest malaria prevalence.
This was revealed Tuesday during a media briefing breakfast ahead of this year’s World Malaria Day which will be marked in Nyakach, Kisumu County.
The Ministry of Health has also hailed Homabay County for its significant reduction in malaria prevalence rate from 38pc to 3pc.
Although Kenya has made significant progress in the fight against malaria in the last decade, the ministry decries the lack of adequate funding to eradicate the killer disease.
Last year the Ministry noted that financing needs for malaria prevention, control, and elimination are significant, with a resource gap that currently stands at 50pc of the resources required to fully implement the Kenya Malaria Strategic Plan.
According to the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), the disease incidence reduced by 7pc to 104 cases per 1000 population in 2023 from 113 cases per 1000 population in 2016.
The mortality rate declined by 32pc from 2.2 in 2019 to1.5 deaths per 100,000 population in 2023
Kenya’s commitment to eradicating malaria is evident in its strategic objectives outlined in the Kenya Malaria Strategy (KMS) 2019-2023.
The plan aims to reduce the burden of malaria in the country and contribute to the global goal of eliminating malaria by 2030.
These objectives focus on protecting at-risk populations, managing malaria cases, increasing intervention utilization, and strengthening surveillance.
Public threat
The Ministry of Health is distributing 18.3 million Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) in 28 targeted counties to ensure households in malaria-risk areas have one net for every two household members.
The strides made through the concerted efforts showcase the power of collaboration among the government, partners, civil society, and communities in delivering strategic interventions.
Country Director of PROPEL Kenya, Dr. David Khaoya acknowledges that Malaria is still a huge public health threat in Kenya highlighting the need for rapid scale up funding and interventions to avert more deaths.
“Progress has been made in the fight against malaria, resulting in reduced malaria mortality and morbidity. Despite the progress, three-quarters of the population is still at risk of the disease” he says.
As such, much more emphasis is needed in the face of growing threats, from mutating malaria parasites and insecticide-resistant mosquitoes.
Challenges identified by the National Malaria Control Programme include gaps in coverage of prevention and treatment services due to limited financing to fully implement the Strategic Plan, uptake and utilization of available malaria prevention and treatment by at-risk populations.
Others are emerging and potential threat from insecticide and drug resistance coupled with gene deletion which renders malaria rapid tests ineffective and the presence of more invasive vector species adaptable to a wide range of ecological settings including urban areas.
