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{
    "id": 573487,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/573487/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 101,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kittony",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13110,
        "legal_name": "Zipporah Jepchirchir Kittony",
        "slug": "zipporah-jepchirchir-kittony"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise to give a statement of the Committee on Health regarding the outbreak of malaria in western Kenya. At last, we have the response from the Ministry of Health. I am sure this will make the House happy. The four counties in western Kenya are classified as malaria endemic zones, meaning that transmission of malaria occurs throughout the year. The malaria situation being experienced in the region is not an outbreak, but an upsurge of cases associated with environmental factors, including the long rains which have just ended. Below is the Ministry’s position on the specific concerns of the Senate regarding the upsurge. The Ministry together with the county governments from western region has taken the following measures to stop further spread of the disease:- (a) Anti-malaria drugs have been availed to supplement existing stock for case management in the affected population. It is known that prompt and effective management in the affected population case management is necessary to reduce the burden and transmission of malaria. (b) Over 330 Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) have been distributed. The distribution continues. By the end of October 2015, nearly 2.8 million nets will have been distributed. This is in addition to the routine provision of bed nets at the maternal and child health outlets for under one year children and pregnant mothers. (c) Following the upsurge, the Ministry released a team of experts to provide technical assistance to both the county and sub-county teams in the affected counties in order to build and strengthen county capacity to control disease. The Ministry, in collaboration, with other partners has enhanced public health awareness campaign through print and electronic media. The awareness campaigns focus on early diagnosis and treatment of malaria in order to curb transmission, accelerate treatment and prevent death. Regarding the preventive actions taken by the Ministry to prevent outbreak of the same, in other parts of the country; strategic preventive interventions are the hallmark of malaria control. The Ministry, in collaboration with county governments and partners, has taken the following actions to prevent the spread of malaria in the country: (1) In 2015, over five million of long lasting insecticide nets have been distributed to malaria endemic and epidemic prone counties. An additional, 8.6 million will be distributed to the targeted regions which include western Kenya before the end of the year. These nets complement other routinely distributed nets to children under one year and pregnant women in maternal health child outlets in endemic counties. (2) The Ministry has distributed over 11 million doses of Artemether- Lumefantrine(AL) medicines countrywide and other medicines for the management of common malaria infections as well as 600,000 doses of Artesunate injection for the management of severe malaria. This intervention is informed by the knowledge that prompt and effective treatment of malaria reduces severe malaria, prevents death and reduces transmission significantly. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}