Kenyan Malaria Deaths Almost Halved Thanks to Mosquito Nets

Kenya’s Health Minister Charity Ngilu issued a statement yesterday that stated the 13.4 million insecticidal nets [INTs] passed out free of charge in her country over the last five years have worked wonders in halting the spread of malaria. “Childhood deaths have been reduced by 44 percent in high-risk districts, in-patient malaria cases and deaths are falling [and] there are reduced cases at the community level. For every 1,000 treated nets used, seven children who might have died of malaria are saved.” WHO chief Margaret Chan said Kenya’s success “serves as a model that should be replicated throughout malarious countries in Africa.” This journal isn’t sure about the adjective “malarious,” but why quibble when the battle against the bug is going the right way?

According to Ms. Ngilu’s ministry, “Malaria kills 34,000 children under the age of five each year in Kenya, and threatens the lives of more than 25 million of its population of 34 million people.” The World Health Organization’s figures as cited by Reuters say “Malaria kills a child every 30 seconds, mainly African children under 5 years old. Some 114 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America are endemic. The disease, which makes more than 500 million people a year severely ill, is caused by a parasite transmitted via bites from infected mosquitoes.”

The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (www.kbc.co.ke) said, “For the first time, WHO recommends that insecticide-treated nets be long-lasting, and distributed either free or highly subsidized and used by all community members. Impressive results in Kenya, achieved by means of the new WHO-recommended strategy, show that free mass distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets is a powerful way to quickly and dramatically increase coverage, particularly among the poorest people.

“Previously, WHO’s guidelines focused primarily on providing insecticide-treated mosquito nets for use by children under five years old and pregnant women. However, recent studies have shown that by expanding the use of these nets to all people in targeted areas, increased coverage and enhanced protection of vulnerable groups can be achieved, while protecting all community members.”

The nets cost about $10 a piece. Donations can be made on the internet through various charities including www.malarianomore.org, and www.nothingbutnets.net to name but two.

© Copyright 2007 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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