COUNTY, JHPIEGO PIONEERS SELF-ADMINISTERED MALARIA PREVENTION FOR PREGNANT WOMEN.

The County Government of Kakamega has launched an innovative pilot program allowing pregnant women to self-administer malaria preventive treatment at home, marking a significant shift in the fight against malaria in pregnancy. The initiative, implemented in partnership with Jhpiego and supported by the Gates Foundation, has been rolled out across 33 health facilities in Shinyalu and Ikolomani sub-counties.

Speaking on behalf of H.E. Governor Fernandes Barasa, Health Services CECM Dr. Livingston Imbayi noted that the self-administered IPTp model marks a transformative shift in maternal healthcare delivery. He stated that the approach will empower pregnant women to take control of their health while reducing the burden of repeated facility visits, especially for malaria drug administration. Dr. Imbayi emphasized that the initiative aligns with Kakamega County’s Quality Healthcare pillar, which aims at promoting patient-centered care and accelerating progress toward the elimination of preventable diseases across the county.

Chief Officer for Public Health, Mrs. Rose Muhanda, noted that the Self-Administered IPTp program seeks to address persistent gaps in the uptake of the recommended three doses of malaria preventive treatment among pregnant women. She further observed that, for the success of the program, Community Health Promoters alongside prompt SMS reminders will play a critical role in ensuring adherence to anti-malarial drugs among expectant mothers.

The Self-Administered Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy (S-IPTp) program introduces a patient-centered approach to malaria prevention, where expectant mothers receive their first dose at a health facility, after which they are given subsequent doses to take at home based on their pregnancy schedule. The approach is reinforced through support from Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and digital SMS reminders.

Gates Foundation team led by Dr. Caryl Feldacker, together with senior county officials, later conducted spot checks at Shinyalu Model Health Facility and Chief Milimu Dispensary to assess project uptake among expectant mothers.

Also present during the engagement were representatives from the Jhpiego technical team, including Dr. Ndinda Kusu and Ms. Assumpta Matekwa, Director of Medical Services Dr. Stephen Wandei, Director of Public Health Mr. William Olaka, among others.