Health Education Day 2009

Health Education Day has become a much anticipated annual event in Suba District, Kenya. Every year the community members look forward to this event as they spend the day sharing a meal, singing, dancing, learning about Malaria prevention, and women and children vulnerable to Malaria receive long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLIN’s). In May 2009, 1800 long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLIN’s) were distributed. The beneficiaries included:

• 186 pregnant mothers (majority between 14 and 21 years), 57 men,
• 640 children (ages new born to 2 years)
• 917 children (ages 2-5 years)

The beneficiaries were identified by the Akado staff after visiting over 3000 homes in the Mbita, and Rusinga Island. The population of Mbita currently stands at 73,197 and the majority of them are women and children living within the impoverished informal settlements of Mbita Township.

At HED 2009 some of the key activities included;project mosquito net

1. Distribution of 1,800 Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets.
2. Free Malaria diagnosis for 917 children (ages between 2-5 years).
3. Distribution of Water Treatment Kits to poorest households.
4. Re-treatment of Insecticide Treated Nets.
5. Blood slide tests on Malaria Parasites was conducted for a total of 773 children. Out of these 773 children 41% tested positive for Malaria. This highlights the high prevalence rate of Malaria among young children.
6. 917 children between the ages of 2 and 5 years were given de-worming medicines.
7. Mobilization of key stakeholders and formation of Emergency Disaster Response Team to curb the threats of outbreaks of Malaria and other communicable diseases due to heavy downpour of early rains.
8. Health Talks with local communities on Malaria prevention and control.
9. Formation of Village Malaria Advocacy Committees (VMACs).
10. Training of ECD Teachers on early recognition and prompt treatment of Malaria among young children (2-5 years).
11. Poems and other creative activities by Kindergarten children on Malaria Prevention and Control.
12. Printing of Banner/Flyers of Malaria Prevention and Control 2009. Photos/ Video shooting.

HED 2009, was the fifth year that the event was organized in Mbita, Kenya. Some of the lessons we have learnt over the last 5 years include:

1. In resource constrained communities such as Mbita, Malaria control programs should be comprehensive. For example, it is important to educate the community about prevention methods as treatment via anti-malaria drugs is very expensive.
2. Mobile Clinics can be very effective in the fishing villages in Suba district as people find it very difficult to travel to a health clinic. If medical help can be provided in a timely fashion via a Mobile Clinic, Malaria can be controlled effectively.
3. Government records regarding maternal and child health are very poor. There is a need to keep up-to-date and complete records on maternal and child health in Suba district. This will help in assessing and measuring the impact of the Malaria control program over the last 5 years.
    

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