Cases of reported malaria incidents are on the increase in Thika Town despite the government's concerted efforts in fighting the disease.
The District Public Health Officer Jane Macharia confirmed that there are cases of reported malaria in the hospitals but noted that statistics are yet to be analysed to give the situation.
She explained that this was expected due to the rains experienced last month which left pools of stagnate water, which coupled with warm climatic conditions, favour mosquito breeding.
The health department has been focusing on prevention of contracting the disease especially by expectant mothers and children under the age of one. Mothers are given free long lasting insecticides treated nets during the pre-natal clinics and upon delivery to ensure the child and mother are protected against the killer disease.
Macharia on Tuesday told reporters in Thika that her department has assigned community health workers, who are in charge of 600 people each per location, to follow up on the nets usage and report back to the department.
He added that according to the latest report, 90 per cent of the residents are making good use of nets but mosquito bites during the day and before sleeping hours cannot be ruled out.
In the meantime, residents have been advised to keep the environment clean by clearing the vegetation around their homesteads, collecting garbage, draining stagnant water and spraying on pools of stagnant water that cannot be drained.
The sprays are readily available at the public health offices.