Nyando Sub County in Kisumu has received 53,040 treated mosquito nets as the fight against malaria continues.
Dr Rosemary Obara, the area Ministry of Health (MoH) official says that 52,919 of these nets have already been distributed to those who registered and turned up to collect them at designated venues.
Speaking at Ahero Sub- County Hospital on Tuesdya, Dr Obara said that 900 nets remained uncollected after those who registered failed to turn up to collect them. She said that they were taken to Ahero hospital and other local clinics.
“We have given preference to pregnant mothers and children aged five years and below. The nets were given in the ratio of 1:2 meaning that a family of eight people was supposed to get four nets except in circumstances where turn out overwhelmed supply forcing us otherwise,” she stated.
Dr Obara said that apparently many people were left out during the data collection or registration but they will benefit in the next round.
“It appeared like we had a severe shortage but the truth remains that many local residents were either not captured in the data or were absent during the period the lists were being compiled. This explains the high number of people who missed the nets,” she explained.
Dr Obara pointed out that Malaria has tremendously gone down in Nyando due to the use of treated nets, indoor spraying and treatment for those infected in local health facilities.
The MOH has also appealed to members of the public to use the nets properly to achieve the intended purpose instead of diverting to other uses like using the nets to fence off kitchen gardens.