NAIROBI, Dec 6 (NNN-KBC) — Kenya’s fight against malaria has reached a new milestone with the successful mass distribution of mosquito nets, powered by a groundbreaking digital platform ‘Digimalke System’ and the dedicated efforts of community health promoters.
The campaign is a first in sub-Saharan Africa to make use of a digital platform, it highlights the transformative potential of technology and grassroots collaboration in public health.
Coordinated by the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) and funded by the Global Fund, the 2023-2024 mosquito net distribution campaign utilized advanced digital tools to enhance efficiency, accountability, and coverage.
KEMSA successfully received a total of 10.7 million Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) procured by Global Fund. The nets were meant for malaria endemic areas across the country where 22 counties have been identified as malaria endemic.
The campaign marked the first deployment of a digital platform for mass net distribution in Kenya.
Digimal was developed collaboratively by HealthIT, the National Malaria Control Program, the Global Fund and U.S President’s Malaria Initiative.
According to Patrick Mburugu, National Coordinator for the Mass Net Distribution Campaign, Digimalke System streamlined operations and improved resource utilization.
“This is the first campaign we’ve deployed a digital platform, and it has shown significant benefits in terms of efficiency, resource optimization, and accountability,” Mburugu said. “We’ve seen a notable improvement in coverage and the utilization of resources within the right framework.”
The platform enabled real-time registration of beneficiaries, accurate tracking of resources, and transparency throughout the process. To address connectivity challenges in remote regions like Turkana, Lamu, and parts of the coastal areas, the government introduced an offline-enabled mobile app.
“This innovation ensured that even areas with poor network coverage were effectively reached,” Mburugu explained.
Mburugu says the malaria prevalence in the country has declined from 8pc to 6pc since 2020 attributing the drop to proper use of mosquito nets alongside other interventions.
At the heart of the campaign were community health promoters, who played an integral role in ensuring the success of last-mile distribution efforts. Working hand-in-hand with village elders, they registered households through the digimal platform and this ensured accurate and timely delivery of mosquito nets.
Speaking on their contributions, Dr. John Aduda, KEMSA’s Quality Assurance Manager, emphasized their importance: “Community health promoters and village elders were vital to the success of this campaign. Their local knowledge and commitment ensured that no household was left out.”
Their efforts were supported by an extensive training program designed to align with Global Fund guidelines, equipping them with the skills to use the new digital platform effectively. — NNN-KBC
