Turkana County has officially been categorized as a high malaria burden County in the 2023-2027 Kenya Malaria Strategy, necessitating targeted interventions to combat the disease.
This strategic framework, developed by the National Malaria Control Programme, aims to guide malaria control efforts and monitoring towards achieving a malaria-free Kenya.
Unique factors contributing to Turkana's high malaria prevalence include; the mobility of pastoralist communities along international borders with Uganda, South Sudan, and Ethiopia, the presence of refugee camps in Kakuma and Kalobeyei, and rapid urbanization.
According to the Kenya Health Information System, Turkana County has a malaria prevalence of 39 percent compared to the national average of 6 percent, with case upsurges during the rainy seasons. "This declaration positions Turkana to receive increased support through initiatives such Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC)," said Dr Epem Esekon, the County Executive Member for Health and Sanitation.
