Kenya is among countries that contributed to the highest cases of malaria globally according to a new study by the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to the World Malaria Report 2017, Kenya is among 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa that accounted for 80 percent of the global malaria burden in 2016.

Below is a Proportion of estimated malaria deaths attributable to the 15 countries.

Nigeria (30%) Democratic Republic of the Congo (14 %) Burkina Faso (7 %) India (7 %) Mali (6 %) United Republic of Tanzania (5%) Niger (4%) Mozambique (4%) Ghana (4%) Uganda (3%) Kenya (3%) Angola (3%) Cameroon (3%) Guinea (2%) Chad.

The reports observes that Between 2015 and 2016 there was no significant change in mortality rate in the WHO African Region, while a slight increase was reported in all other WHO regions.

Stalled Progress In Malaria Control

This year’s Malaria report shows that after an unprecedented period of success in global malaria control, progress has stalled.

“In 2016, there were an estimated 216 million cases of malaria, an increase of about 5 million cases over 2015. Deaths reached 445 000, a similar number to the previous year,” the report indicates.

Challenges to Achieving A Malaria Free World

The report cites lack of adequate funding as the key challenge in the war against.

“Some of the challenges impeding countries’ abilities to stay on track and advance towards elimination include lack of sustainable and predictable international and domestic funding, risks posed by conflict in malaria endemic zones, anomalous climate patterns”

The World malaria report presents a comprehensive state of play in global progress in the fight against malaria up to the end of 2016. It tracks progress in investments in malaria programmes and research, malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment, surveillance, trends in malaria disease burden, malaria elimination, and threats in tackling malaria and safeguarding the investments made. The 2017 Malaria Report draws on data from 91 countries.

US TO DONATE SH3 BILLION TO FIGHT MALARIA

The US President’s Malaria Initiative has announced it will fund Sh3 billion to combat malaria in Kenya in 2018 as part of the Kenya Malaria Operational Plan published by the US State Department in November.

Most of the US-funded campaign will be concentrated in the lakeside counties of Western Kenya – Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisumu, Migori, Siaya and Vihiga – where malaria is most prevalent.

The bulk of the funding will be spent on massed vaccination of the 9.6 million people in the region at most risk of contracting malaria.

Over 14 million Kenyans live in malaria-endemic areas and treating the mosquito-borne infection accounts for some one-in-six visits to outpatient clinics in the country each year.