Community Malaria Case Management Saving Lives in Busia County.
By Ezra Abaga Corporate Communications, PS Kenya.
Trained Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) are playing a critical role in the fight against malaria in Busia County by not only testing, treating, and referring malaria related cases but also conduct health educations on malaria prevention within their communities.
After a long day working at the farm and attending to house chores in Apatit village, located in a hilly area in Teso South close to Busia Town and Uganda, Rose Amoit Okodoi, her husband Gabriel Okodoi and their two children Precious and Pernuel took supper and retired to bed hoping for a calm and peaceful night. This, however, was not the case. They were suddenly woken up by a crying Precious . Rose hurriedly woke up to check on her and realized that her temperature was high. “Ungefikiria anachomeka,” (you would think there was some fire burning) she narrated.
It was far from daybreak, meaning they couldn’t rush Precious to the nearest Apatit dispensary due to the distance. Also, with phone network challenges, they were unable to call a “boda boda” (motorbike) for transportation, so all they could do was wait until morning as they prayed for the best.
As they worried and monitored their baby, Gabriel suggested they call “Daktari wa Karibu” (Community Health Volunteer) for assistance considering she lived close to them. Rose agreed and recalled that she had seen Lydia, the CHV, educate local women on health issues. First thing that morning, Gabriel rushed to look for the CHV, found her and explained the situation. The CHV was able to respond immediately and carried a bag (for carrying medicine and testing kits) and they rushed towards Gabriel’s house to test the child for Malaria.
In remote places like Apatit Village, cases like these can easily turn fatal. In Kenya, with a malaria prevalence rate of 27% (KMIS 2015), the disease poses a great threat especially to pregnant women and children in Busia County. To save lives, support from Global Fund through Amref Health Africa in Kenya in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Population Services Kenya is strengthening the County Government of Busia capacity on community case management of malaria through Community Health Volunteers who use Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests (MRDT), provide treatment of confirmed positive cases, and do referrals for other illnesses.
At the house, the CHV, with the parents’ consent, was able to do checks on any medication given, checking symptoms, testing and diagnosing malaria.
Lydia used her MRDT kit and after conducting the test, Precious was found to be suffering from Malaria. She then proceeded to prescribe medicine for the child and advised them to ensure they adhere to the dosage while monitoring her condition.
After taking the medicine, Precious started to improve gradually until she finalized taking the dose. The family was relieved and remain thankful that she got treatment without them incurring any transport or medical costs.
For thousands of families in remote areas, such services could ensure no more lives are lost due to treatable diseases like malaria.
“We were happy that ‘Daktari wa Karibu’ treated our child without us incurring any costs. I am grateful for the work Lydia is doing. To prevent infection in the future, she insisted that we sleep under treated mosquito nets all the time and ensure that we clear bushes and stagnant water around our compound,” remarked Gabriel.
