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Abstract
Malaria is a parasite transmitted disease that affects most countries in Africa, especially those located near the equator. Kenya uses traditional and modern surveillance techniques to combat this disease, even though a lot has to be done to put it at bay. Illiteracy, inadequate funds, ineffective equipment, and corruption are the major challenges that public health officials face in fighting this disease in Kenya. The public should be educated on managing this condition, and more funds should be allocated to the concerned departments.
Introduction
Kenya is located along the equator and this means that it enjoys a warm climate during most times of the year; hence, offering a favorable environment for mosquitoes to thrive (Wang et al., 2012). The Kenya Medical Research Institute and the World Health Organization argue that malaria kills about 50,000 annually. Children and expectant women are at the greatest risks of malaria infections.
Current Monitoring Procedures
The Kenyan government established the MIP program that targets expectant women. These prevention and treatment services are offered for free to combat this disease (Sachs & Malaney, 2002). The Integrated Vector Management program has reduced the rates of disease spread and prevalence in most regions (Amin et al., 2007). The Epidemic Preparedness and Response program has established malaria early warning systems and other campaigns like indoor spraying to manage the spread of this disease.
The rationale for the Benefits of Surveillance Systems
These surveillance systems are necessary for mitigating the impacts of malaria in Kenya (Hotez et al., 2007). Most children who are less than five years old will live compared to the current situation where 20% of them die of this disease. Expectant women will carry their pregnancies to full term. The current health reports confirm that about 8% of expectant women or their unborn babies die due to malaria-related complications (Mutabingwa, 2005). The government will reduce expenses on malaria management by more than 50% if proper surveillance is done. Kenyans will be more productive and save a lot of time that is usually wasted in seeking medical treatment when they are sick.
Two Additional Special Features That Should Be Part of the Surveillance
Information education communication. All stakeholders should establish efficient programs that will help members of the public to have malaria prevention and treatment knowledge. All partners involved in fighting malaria should have uniformity in disseminating various messages to the public (OMeara, Mangeni, Steketee, & Greenwood, 2010).
Efficient monitoring and evaluation reporting. The World Health Organization and other donors have sponsored various researches to establish ways of preventing the spread of malaria in Kenya. However, there are no proper channels for reporting their findings to help the stakeholders in formulating effective policies (Patz, 1998).
Challenges Public Health Officials Face in Disease Surveillance
Illiteracy. It is the greatest challenge that hampers the effectiveness of health officers in fighting malaria in Kenya (Snow, Guerra, Mutheu, & Hay, 2008). Most people in rural areas do not know how to read and write, and it becomes difficult for them to communicate using English or Swahili. Health researchers cannot collect adequate information from the locals if there is a communication barrier between them.
Inadequate funds. The Kenyan government does not allocate adequate funds to the Ministry of Health to fight malaria. The current budget requires about $100,000, but the government has allocated $70,000 which is insufficient. Health officers cannot conduct proper surveillance because they do not have adequate funds.
Ineffective equipment. Health officers do not use modern equipment, and that explains why it is not easy to predict the life of disease in Kenya. Disease surveillance requires the use of sophisticated and precise technology that will give accurate and reliable results (Thayer, 2005). Most Kenyans do not have access to private hospitals that have modern equipment and that are why health officers seldom succeed in malaria surveillance.
Embezzlement of funds. Transparency International conducted research in 2011 at the Ministry of Health and discovered that the process of procuring drugs and medical equipment is riddled with corruption. The Kenya Medical Supplies Agency cannot implement policies to promote transparency and accountability (Kangwana et al., 2009). Therefore, disease surveillance faces serious challenges posed by corruption, and this spells a dark future for Kenyans.
Recommendations to Address the Challenges
The Kenyan government introduced free primary and secondary education for all citizens. However, nobody is keen on implementing this policy. There should be public campaigns to educate people on the need to fight illiteracy and ensure health officers have ample time to conduct surveillance to fight malaria. The government should allocate at least 15% of the national budget to fight malaria and equip health facilities with modern equipment. Transparency and accountability are inevitable in public offices. Therefore, the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission should strengthen its fight against corruption and bring to book all fraudsters.
Conclusion
Malaria is a killer disease that continues to trouble developing nations. Kenya has put in place various measures to curb this disease, but it still has a long way to go to manage it properly. The current monitoring procedures, especially the use of modern technology for surveillance have not addressed the causative agents properly. Public health officers do not have the proper equipment, lack community support and cannot access some rural areas due to poor infrastructure. Corruption hinders the transparent and accountable tendering process of medical supplies in Kenya. This government should allocate more funds, train health officers, fight corruption and educate the public on malaria management if it wishes to enjoy the benefits of disease surveillance.
References
Amin, A. A., Zurovac, D., Kangwana, B. B., Greenfield, J., Otieno, D. N., Akhwale, W. S., & Snow, R. W. (2007). The challenges of changing national malaria drug policy to artemisinin-based combinations in Kenya. Malaria Journal, 6(1), 72.
Hotez, P. J., Molyneux, D. H., Fenwick, A., Ottesen, E., Sachs, S. E., & Sachs, J. D. (2007). Incorporating a rapid-impact package for neglected tropical diseases with programs for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. PLoS Medicine, 3(5), 576.
Kangwana, B. B., Njogu, J., Wasunna, B., Kedenge, S. V., Memusi, D. N., Goodman, C. A., & Snow, R. W. (2009). Malaria drug shortages in Kenya: a major failure to provide access to effective treatment. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 80(5), 737-738.
Mutabingwa, T. K. (2005). Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs): best hope for malaria treatment but inaccessible to the needy. Acta Tropica, 95(3), 305- 315.
OMeara, W. P., Mangeni, J. N., Steketee, R., & Greenwood, B. (2010). Changes in the burden of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 10(8), 545-555.
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Sachs, J., & Malaney, P. (2002). The economic and social burden of malaria. Nature, 415(6872), 680-685.
Snow, R. W., Guerra, C. A., Mutheu, J. J., & Hay, S. I. (2008). International funding for malaria control in relation to populations at risk of stable Plasmodium falciparum transmission. PLoS Med, 5(7), e142.
Thayer, A. M. (2005). Fighting malaria. Chem. Eng. News, 83(43), 69-82.
Wang, S., Ghosh, A. K., Bongio, N., Stebbings, K. A., Lampe, D. J., & Jacobs-Lorena, M. (2012). Fighting malaria with engineered symbiotic bacteria from vector mosquitoes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(31), 12734-12739.
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