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Upsurge in Malaria Cases Worries Medics
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 17 July 2007 21:50
The local Medical Officer of Health, Dr Eric Abunga, said yesterday that up to mid this month, the hospital - which also serves as a referral centre for 13 neighbouring districts - had registered 562 admissions. Eight deaths caused by the disease had also been recorded.
Dr Abunga said malaria cases in the various regions had increased following the November-December rains.
He instructed medical personnel in the district to promptly refer acute malaria cases to the district hospital to avert a catastrophe.
The MoH, who was addressing a meeting in his office on how to prevent malaria, said 550 hospital admissions and eight deaths in January were an indication of an upsurge in malaria cases.
Dr Abunga said his office had asked the ministry headquarters for logistical and material support to combat malaria.
He said that his office, in collaboration with a number of non-governmental organisations working in the region, among them Icipe, World Vision and Merlin, had identified 178 breeding sites in man-made ponds for spraying with anti-mosquito chemicals.
He appealed to members of the public to attend recognised health institutions, saying they had adequate anti-malaria drugs.
The MoH said that the Global Fund for Malaria Control had donated Sh259,000 towards the purchase and distribution of insecticide treated nets.
