The government is earmarking to distribute 18.3 million new mosquito nets in 28 targeted counties next year as part of long-term plans to enhance malaria prevention, control and elimination.

This plan, according to the Ministry of Health, aims at ensuring households in malaria-risk areas have receiving at least one of the new nets dubbed Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) for every two household members.

Principal Secretary in charge of Health Standards and Professional Management Dr Josephine Mburu pointed out that this will ultimately contribute towards reducing the burden of malaria in the country.

“Additionally, the Ministry of Health plans to use innovative tools such as drones in larval source management in lake endemic zones,” she said ahead of the annual World Malaria Day slated for April 25.

Under the theme; “Time to Deliver Zero Malaria: Invest, Innovate, Implement”, will be marked in Ekerenyo, Nyamira next Tuesday. Theme underscores the urgent need for action and further investment to achieve zero malaria illness and deaths.

“It also highlights the importance of maximising current investments by expanding existing interventions, celebrating research community’s efforts, and encouraging more investment in impactful tools,” the PS said in remarks delivered by Director Medical Services, Preventive and Promotive Health at the Ministry, Dr Andrew Mulwa.

While aiming to eliminate malaria by next year, the ministry is also keen to continue providing prompt malaria diagnosis and treatment through microscopy and the use of quality-assured malaria rapid diagnostic test kits and medicines across all public and faith-based health facilities.

“In the last decade, we have reduced the prevalence of malaria by more than 50 percent, and the number of new malaria cases has also significantly decreased,” Dr. Mburu said, noting that several counties have consistently recorded very low incidences of malaria, providing an opportunity to implement malaria elimination in these counties.