Nyakore Community Health Workers

It’s expansive, as is beautiful. Am he terrains are rough, the ride is tough, we have been on the bike for almost an housing now and we still riding on. As the bike engines roar through the vast Kuria is landscapes am awe at he beauty of our country, the hills, he green fauna, the distant horizons with its crisp blue, gigging one the urge to touch yet it be so far. We are on a mission to check the net distribution program at Nyakore health facility, Kuria West.

It is day 3 of the exercise intended to take five days. We also are meeting the Nyakore Community health workers at the station for regular project supervision by KeNAAM’s field officer.

Their are large queues as people eager to be issued with nets at the health facility. The health officers are busy checking through the forms to verify I’D details before one is given the go ahead to pick the net.

“Wamenipatia neti moja peke yake, na niko na watoto watatu.”(They have only given me one net and I have three children), laments an of man as he walks past as with a net in hand.

“According to government policy on net distribution, the program is intend to give one net per two persons,” explains an officer at the station. He also adds that for families with irregular numbers, say three, five and such figures, the number is rounded off to have an even number.

Inspite of such programs ensuring gnome high number of LLINs, their is a low utilization estimated at approximately 31.9% countrywide.

Whilst such statistics remain for the countries malaria index, the work done by the CHWs, CHCs and CHEWs under the mentorship of KeNAAM is in Kuria is impressive.

“Their are reduced number of malaria cases reported in our facilities and this is due to the work the the CHWs and CHCs are doing in teaching the communities in proper net usage.” Says Getongoroma CHEW, Mr. James Igayi.

Mr. Igayi is not the only one praising the work the CHWs are are doing in Kuria. Similar sentiments are shared by Mr. Manase Mugendi, the chairperson for Nyakore Community unit.

Involving the community itself in the distribution and campaign for proper net usage is proving to be the sure way of ensuring nets serve the intended purpose. If malaria is to be kicked out of our beloved country, the community to which the information is being shared should be involved. Having the community become key stakeholders of the projects and a part of its implementation process will be the only sure way that statistics such as reflected in the KMSP 2014-2017 will become history.