2,000 Red Cross volunteers to battle highland malaria in Kenya
12 July 2002
By Andrei Neacsu in Nairobi, Kenya

One thousand Kenya Red Cross volunteers are helping to fight the highland malaria epidemic which has killed 300 people. Since the outbreak in June, 158,000 people have been infected in six districts of Kenya.

"Most of the deaths occurred because patients came to late to the hospital," says Marie Kurya, acting secretary general of the Kenya Red Cross. "We have re-mobilized the whole volunteer network which was recently involved in a measles immunization campaign. They're now conducting a door-to-door education and social awareness campaign to advise on the importance of early treatment and prevention."

Specialized training will be conducted for at least another thousand volunteers based in neighbouring districts who are ready to intervene. They will encourage the population to clear bushes and drain stagnant water near their households.

Kenya Red Cross, WHO, UNICEF and other will be part of a government task force responding to the epidemic.

Most affected by the highland malaria epidemic are the western districts of Kericho, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Nyamira, Kisii and Buret where Red Cross volunteers have already distributed mosquito nets, anti-malarial drugs and insecticide. The International Federation is assisting Kenya Red Cross in the procurement of 2,000 blankets, mosquito nets and spray pumps.

Nearly 5,000 people have been admitted or treated for malaria in various hospitals in the Kisii district where 54 of the 90 dead were children who did not receive treatment early enough. In Kisumu, 40 per cent of all hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from malaria while in Nyamira close to 90 per cent of the 446 patients of the district's hospital are malaria cases. To confront the epidemic, hospital employees across the affected area have been called back from leave.

In May this year, the same region was affected by the worst floods in four years. Health authorities believe floods are to blame for this year's high prevalence of highland malaria, called as such because it occurs at the high altitude limit for the disease.

Related Links:

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