Efforts to curb the spread of Malaria in households in Kisii County are being derailed by misuse of the free long lasting insecticide treated mosquito distributed by government and health partners.
And in a move aimed at curbing the trend, the government is in the process of formulating national policy guidelines to guard against their misuse.
Kisii County health Committee Chairperson Wilfred Monyenye noted that some people who were issued with the free nets were converting them for other uses like fencing off their kitchen gardens or protecting their poultry from predators.
Monyenye spoke on Tuesday at the Kisii level five hospital resource center during a stakeholders meeting called to plan for distribution of 674,862 nets in which close to 1.2 million residents are to benefit from this Friday.
“The policy will not only address the issue of misuse of the nets but also give guidelines on disposal of those worn out since they can also become a health hazard,” he said.
The official said Malaria remained a killer disease in Kisii County, accounting for 25% of patients seeking medical attention at health facilities.
The distribution of the nets this Friday is a culmination of a one-week registration of the residents by community health workers and village elders to ensure they reach the target audience.