Baringo receives 290,000 mosquito nets in Kemsa initiative to prevent malaria

Baringo County has received 290,000 free mosquito nets in three subcounties.

The net distribution program is funded by the Global Fund and aims at distributing treated nets to all 20 malaria-endemic counties.

Speaking at the Kemsa depo in Nakuru town, the authority CEO Waqo Dulacha Ejersa expressed joy over their involvement in the last-mile distribution of nets in 18 counties.

He said they are giving four nets per household to ensure that over a million people are protected.

He noted that they are targeting pregnant women and children below five years with nets that can last for three years.

Waqo acknowledged the role of the Global Fund and the US government in the initiative, saying that they have supported it through the national treasury.

"They have supported us through the National Treasury and the Ministry of Health to a tune of 10.9 million nets to about 22 counties. Four counties have been distributed through other mechanisms but we are going to 18 counties," he said.

Waqo added that they are working closely with counties to make sure that the last mile is achieved.

He said in the past, they did not do the last mile distribution, which involves going to the point of the net pick-up.

This time round, however, they are doing it owing to the collaboration with Global Fund.

The last mile is made successful through the identification of the recipients in a process done by the National Malaria Program.

Kemsa is then given the posts by the stakeholders to deliver the mosquito nets.