Bridging the Gap: Community Health Workers Leading the Fight Against Malaria

Amos Wanzala Ateng’ has been providing community health services to his community members in Buhuyi town, Butula Sub County for the last 19 years. As a community health promoter (CHP) since 2005, one of his major roles is the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of malaria cases in Busia County. He conducts household visits and holds health talks on the use of treated mosquito nets and keeping compounds clean.

According to the World Health Organization, 249 million cases of malaria were reported globally in 2022, with 94% of all cases and 95% of deaths (608,000) from the African region, burdening 85 countries. In Kenya, the 2020 Malaria Indicator Survey revealed that seven out of 10 individuals are at risk of getting the parasitic infection. The statistics translate to 13 million persons in the endemic areas and another 19 million in the seasonal malaria transmission zones.

Busia is one of the counties in Kenya burdened with the disease, with 39% malaria prevalence. Through the partnership between the county government of Busia and Living Goods, Amos has received health commodities including thermometers, malaria test equipment, and drugs for treatment of malaria.

Community Health Promoter, Amos Wanzala during an interview at Emafubu Dispensary in Butula, Busia County.

Whenever Amos visits a household, he is always keen to probe the health of children under five and pregnant women. With the help of a smartphone he recently received from the national government, he is guided on when to take a malaria test and when to refer a client to a health facility for treatment.

When a child tests positive, he prescribes a drug which he also gives free of charge to the caregiver. He explains that the children who test negative despite having a fever are quickly referred to a health facility for further medical checkups. Amos does a follow-up within the next 24 hours to know how the child is faring, in case their health deteriorates, he issues them with a referral letter to visit a health facility immediately.

Since he started receiving the malaria commodities in 2017, Amos has never recorded a case of a child under five years who died from malaria. As we mark World Malaria Day, Amos appeals to his fellow countrymen and women to continue sleeping under treated mosquito nets. If you have signs of malaria, visit a health facility immediately, and avoid buying over-the-counter drugs. Take your medication as prescribed by a health worker.