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"speaker_name": "Mr. Kaino",
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"legal_name": "Boaz Kipchumba Kaino",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to contribute on this very important Motion. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, malaria is a vector borne disease, as well as a water borne disease. As previous speakers said, it is one of the killer diseases in Kenya. I want to say that this problem has spread to other places. Most countries in Asia, as we speak today, have tried to control the spread of malaria. After Independence, many countries knew that malaria was one of the major killer diseases. They used all their resources to control malaria. Many countries have controlled malaria by destroying the vector which is the female anopheles mosquitoes which feed on human blood. That also extends to the treatment of the people who have already been affected by the disease, and carry the parasite in their bodies. We should also spray the breeding places of the mosquitoes. Today, some countries, like Singapore, Thailand and other Asian countries, have brought malaria to a manageable level, and many of their people are not sick. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Motion is very important and I wish that all hon. Members could support it, because malaria also affects our agricultural sector. It also affects our economy. If malaria did not exist, we would be collecting a lot of revenue and directed resources to other very important areas like roads and other infrastructure. Malaria also causes absenteeism in places of work, thus making Kenyans unproductive. When we talk about mosquitoes, it should be known that it is the female anopheles mosquito which transmits the parasite that causes malaria. Even in Parliament Buildings, hon. Members have problems because of mosquitoes. In the evening, at about 5.00 p.m. hon. Members are bitten by mosquitoes while taking tea. So, it is important to start with Parliament Buildings itself, because there are a lot of mosquitoes in the HANSARD offices; people cannot concentrate on their work even in the Clerk's Chambers and many other areas. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, mosquitoes could be controlled biologically by destroying them at the aquatic stage by introducing some fish which eats the larvae. We also have a mechanical method, which can be used to disturb the breeding places. When you disturb the breeding places, we completely cut off oxygen and the larvae will be destroyed. There is also the chemical that Dr. Khalwale talked about. That is the use of insecticides. But this method has advantages and disadvantages. There is another method which is very important. That is health education. If we teach our people about malaria and its effects on health they will learn to destroy places with stagnant water, dispose of plastic or metal cans, and also spray water where mosquitoes are likely to be breeding. This way, we shall be able to reduce malaria. 1718 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 9, 2008 After Independence some countries drew up programmes for control and eradication of malaria. At that time, most governments wanted to completely eradicate malaria. They found that, that was very difficult; so, they decided to adopt control measures. They realised that eradication is impossible. So, they adopted control methods. Even in this country we should have some control programme on malaria. We are taking this issue lightly in this country. When you imagine the amount of money wasted on malaria, it is a lot. Some countries like Tanzania have a malaria institute, because they know that mosquitoes and malaria are enemies in a country. So, they have introduced some courses on malaria. If you have knowledge of a disease, you get some good results. But if you take malaria like any other disease--- Anopheles mosquito will continue biting and transmitting malaria from one place to another, and that is very dangerous. I urge hon. Members and the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation to be very serious on the issue of malaria. The Mover of this Motion felt very strongly that this is a very dangerous thing in this country, and that we shall continue losing money. The rate of 38,000 deaths from malaria per year is not very small. Malaria kills more people than HIV/AIDS, diarrhoea and other diseases do. Even if you put together deaths from HIV/AIDS and diarrhoea, those from malaria will still more. With those few words, I beg to support."
}