Lodwar: The first-ever intervention for seasonal transmission of malaria among young children has led to a significant reduction in malaria cases in Turkana Central sub-county, achieving a 70 percent decrease. The initial round of seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) was carried out between June and October 2024, specifically targeting children aged 3 to 59 months.
According to Kenya News Agency, the project was executed through five cycles of therapeutic anti-malarial drug provision campaigns, employing methods such as door-to-door visits, fixed points, and integrated outreach to maximize coverage. The initiative was a collaborative effort involving the national malaria control program, the county government of Turkana, Catholic Relief Services, Moi University, and Duke Global Health, all serving as implementing partners of the three-year SMC pilot program.
On Friday, stakeholders gathered in Lodwar for an SMC county dissemination meeting to present the first round of evaluation results to the Ministry of Health and key government stakeholders. The discussion focused on the operational achievements and challenges of the pilot program. The World Health Organization recently updated its guidelines, advocating for the use of antimalarial medicine in areas with highly seasonal transmission and a high burden of malaria among young children, recommending seasonal malaria chemoprevention.
Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus emphasized the importance of investing in malaria prevention rather than treatment, noting that the cost of seasonal malaria chemoprevention is significantly lower than treating the disease. Dr. Erus highlighted that in addition to reducing treatment costs, SMC is also aiding in decreasing malaria-related deaths.
County Executive Committee Member for Health Dr. Joseph Epem reported that malaria prevalence in the county is at 39 percent, significantly higher than the national prevalence rate of six percent. “Malaria accounts for 30 percent of hospital admissions in the county and is the leading cause of illnesses,” he stated, emphasizing the need to extend the SMC program to include children aged 5 to 9 years.
National Director in charge of primary health care Dr. Joseph Lenai assured continued technical support and resource mobilization from the national government to County Governments. He committed to expanding the program to other sub-counties and regions across the country, recognizing SMC as a successful strategy in combating malaria. “Seasonal malaria chemoprevention embraces an all-society approach in malaria prevention and is the way forward,” Lenai commented.
Turkana Central Deputy County Commissioner Thomas Siele stated that the national government administration office would prioritize disseminating information on the importance of SMC. “NGAO will also ensure the safety of staff involved in the program as they reach out to communities, even in remote areas,” said the DCC.
Dr. Edwin Mbugua from Catholic Relief Services, health, nutrition, and social services sector lead, advocated for developing national SMC guidelines, asserting that SMC has demonstrated its ability to reduce disease and economic burdens on Kenyans. “Catholic Relief Services is committed to supporting the government in generating evidence on SMC, which should be used to advocate for more resources to scale the program nationwide,” Dr. Mbugua stated.
Professor Wendy Omerara from Duke Global Health Institute and principal investigator highlighted the crucial role of community health promoters in the program. The forum also exchanged insights on community-informed SMC and prioritized areas, including age expansion and digitization of reporting tools. The event saw participation from representatives from Nigeria, Guinea, and senior health officials from national and county governments.
