Kerio valley: Efforts to contain malaria transmission in the Kerio Valley have gained momentum after the Elgeyo Marakwet County Department of Public Health commenced indoor residual spraying demonstrations at Kaparon in Endo Ward, Kerio Valley Sub-County. The exercise is part of a broader malaria prevention and control intervention targeting households in the ward, with the program expected to cover all eligible households as part of efforts to reduce mosquito populations and interrupt malaria transmission.
According to Kenya News Agency, Preventive and Promotive Health Services Chief Officer Caroline Magut, who led the public health team during the demonstration, stated that the county government was committed to strengthening preventive interventions in malaria-prone areas of the Kerio Valley. Magut emphasized the significance of indoor residual spraying as a public health intervention aimed at reducing malaria transmission by ensuring comprehensive household coverage in Endo Ward.
She urged residents to cooperate with the spraying teams and allow trained personnel access to their houses to ensure the intervention achieves the intended public health outcomes. Community participation, she noted, is crucial for comprehensive coverage and effective malaria containment.
Acting Director of Public Health Renisson Changwony highlighted that the intervention formed part of an integrated approach to malaria prevention, surveillance, and control in vulnerable areas. He added that indoor residual spraying complements other malaria prevention measures, including the use of treated mosquito nets, early diagnosis, and prompt treatment.
Changwony assured that the department would continue monitoring the implementation of the program to ensure adherence to established public health and environmental safety standards. Trained personnel have been deployed to conduct the exercise, with close monitoring to ensure the intervention’s desired impact.
County Malaria Control Coordinator Mary Towett emphasized the importance of household-level participation in achieving effective coverage. She noted that indoor residual spraying works by applying approved insecticides to interior surfaces where malaria-transmitting mosquitoes are likely to rest. Towett encouraged residents to cooperate with the spraying teams and follow the guidance provided throughout the process.
Towett also stressed the importance of seeking medical attention early whenever residents experience symptoms associated with malaria, reinforcing prevention, early diagnosis, and prompt treatment as key pillars in controlling the disease. The indoor residual spraying campaign is expected to complement ongoing malaria prevention interventions in the Kerio Valley.
