Before initiation of malaria prevention activities in May 2021, the Amukura Health Centre was reporting frequent cases of sickness due to malaria. Malaria accounts for the highest disease burden at health facilities and has caused deaths of children and women in the region. Some of the cases of most concern impacted pregnant women. Infected women experience a range of complications, including long hospital admissions, loss of pregnancy, and devastating stillbirths.
In collaboration with the Busia County Department of Health, Breakthrough ACTION Kenya formed and trained a Malaria Community Action Team to encourage the uptake of malaria prevention interventions. The main challenges were myths and misconceptions around antenatal visits and malaria interventions. The intervention engaged health and non-health actors in the community to develop a community action plan with localized strategies.
Judith Takaa, who is the Assistant Chief of the Kocheck region, was the national government representative on the Malaria Community Action Team. During her training, she was excited to learn that malaria is preventable. She had narrowly escaped death and almost lost one of her babies due malaria related complications. At the time she had not attended any antenatal visits. When she was admitted to the Amukura Health Center, she gave birth to a preterm baby.
“I was touched and motivated to make a personal commitment to start ANC after the training since I was pregnant for two months and had not started ANC. I learned the importance of attending ANC timely and consistently and how malaria in pregnancy can be prevented using tablets and use of long-lasting insecticidal nets correctly and consistently,” said Judith.
Judith embraced positive malaria behaviors for her 6th pregnancy and committed to share her experiences with community members. She took advantage of all public events in her sub-location to share what she had learned with her community. She encouraged pregnant women to attend antenatal clinic visits, take preventative medication, and use insecticidal nets to prevent malarial infections.
“Pregnancy for my 6th baby has been unique, with no complications. I was able to attend seven ANC visits for close monitoring of the pregnancy…I gave birth to a healthy baby boy in November 2021.”
Judith Taaka is now a champion for malaria prevention in the community. She engages village elders to educate her fellow women to attend antenatal clinic visits and practice malaria prevention techniques to avoid complications from malaria.
USAID