Rotarians Against Malaria Donate 44 Bicycles For War Against Malaria In Siaya, Kenya
By Auscar Wambiya
A team of Rotarians Against Malaria-Global Rotary Action Group (RAM-Global) visited Western Kenya to explore prevalence of the disease, discuss mitigation measures with local communities and agree on actions to fight malaria near Lake Victoria and further north.
The team of 18 Rotarians from eight Rotary Clubs in the United States, led by Rotarian Dr. Dan Perlman, donated some 44 bicycles and other vital equipment to Community Health Promoters. The equipment will facilitate access to rural and grassroot communities in their anti malaria campaign around Hawinga Health Centre in West Alego Ward, Siaya County.
The health practitioners could not hide their joy as they expressed their gratitude for this noble gesture that will go a long way in reducing the time they spend on travels between homes to provide basic health care.
The donation is expected to enable the Community Health Promoters to reach even more households with disease prevention interventions, diagnosis and treatment.
West Alego Ward in Siaya County is a malaria endemic zone, with Lake Kanyaboli and Yala swamp being breeding zones for mosquitoes. Kenya’s national prevalence for malaria is at 6% while Siaya county prevalence is at a high of 29%, being almost five times that of the national average.
RAM-Global has previously supported community members with nets that targeted children aged between 3-13 years. The latest support of bicycles, bags, gumboots, t-shirts and raincoats will go a long way in addressing the challenges that Community Health Promoters encounter.
The support will also motivate the health promoters, and their bicycles will enhance their mobility in reaching more households and eventually reduce their transport cost while coming to the link facility according to area Community Health Assistant Edwin Waringa who spoke at the event at Hawinga Health Centre.
The Community Health Promoters benefiting from these donations are drawn from a number of health facilities in West Alego Ward but report at the Hawinga Health Facility. Speaking on behalf of the community, Mr. Waringa appealed for more interventions like indoor residual spraying that has reduced malaria prevalence in neighbouring Homa Bay County to 3.1% in 2023 from 17% in 2017.
Speaking on behalf of the Rotary Club of Siaya Rotarian Rose Waringa emphasized the need for joint efforts to address the malaria menace including a tripartite pact bringing together local and national governments, partners and the local communities.
RAM-Global will continue to support malaria elimination across West Kenya through an expanded grant going through through Rotary International to work with many Rotary Clubs in District 9212. The group will support interventions aimed at mitigating the high prevalence of malaria in the most affected areas in Kenya and around the world, Dr. Perlman said.
