Kenya launches Great Lakes Malaria initiative Strategic Plan

NAIROBI, Kenya

Kenya has on Friday launched the Great Lakes Malaria Initiative Strategic Plan (2021-2025).

Speaking during the launch, Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said implementation of the strategy will prioritize working with and supporting community-led initiatives within region’s borders.

"If we are to eliminate Malaria in the continent by 2030, we must rethink our approach and apply more effective strategies. We ought to focus on prevention from the source and embrace the principles of primary healthcare.” Kagwe said.

"To effectively combat Malaria, we must start at the breeding sites, where mosquitoes thrive. As such, we need to spread awareness on the role of Larviciding in the fight against Malaria.” He added.

Kagwe further underscored the significance of Research and innovation in the fight against malaria.

"Our recently constituted End Malaria Council, working with the private sector have plans to deploy drones to spray mosquito breeding sites around the lake basin in Western Kenya.”

A memorandum of Understanding between the East African Community, S.C Johnson and the Society for Family Health was also signed during the ceremony.

According to the World Malaria Report (WHO, 2019), about 228 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide in 2018, with 93% of these in Africa. During the same year, an estimated 405000 deaths occurred globally.