Malaria eradication drive in Turkana county aims at vaccinating 39,000 minors

In the heart of Turkana County, Kenya, a significant initiative has been set in motion to combat the high malaria burden in the region. The Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign, launched in the Kakuma and Kalobeyei areas, aims to safeguard both the host communities and refugee populations, particularly 39,000 children aged between 3 and 59 months.

The campaign, which is currently one of the most extensive in Kenya, is being carried out in partnership with the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), UNHCR, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS). The launch was attended by officials from the National Malaria Control Programme and representatives from these organisations.

Turkana County, with a malaria prevalence of 39%, more than double the national average of 6%, is particularly vulnerable during the high-transmission rainy season. According to recent data, the incidence of malaria cases in Turkana is 483 per 1,000 people, with more than half of all cases reported in Turkana West.

The Deputy Governor of Turkana, John Erus, assured that the drugs administered during the SMC campaign are safe. He also emphasized the importance of collaborative action in the fight against malaria, stating that the initial rollout of the SMC in Turkana Central achieved an efficacy rate of up to 71%.

Dr. Gilchrist Lokoel, the Chief Officer for Medical Services, urged the community to use mosquito nets, seek treatment when ill, and support the SMC rollout. The treatment will be given in four monthly cycles from August to December.

John Erus, in his address, urged parents and guardians to allow their children to receive the treatment. He expressed his confidence in the campaign's potential to reduce seasonal malaria incidence in these vulnerable child populations within Turkana County.

The SMC campaign is part of an ongoing effort to reduce malaria infection among host communities and refugees, and it is hoped that this initiative will significantly contribute to improving the health and wellbeing of the region's most vulnerable residents.

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