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Kenya: ITN Coverage of Vulnerable Reaches 50% NAIROBI, Kenya, March 30, 2006 — An intensive insecticide-treated net (ITN) delivery program implemented by PSI/Kenya has reached coverage of 46% of children under five and 50% of pregnant women by targeting heavily subsidized ITNs to vulnerable groups visiting antenatal clinics and promoting sales through the commercial sector. Over 6 million ITNs were delivered nationwide between 2002 and 2005, and an additional 4 million are targeted for delivery in 2006. 42% of those delivered so far were long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and 85% of those delivered from now on will be LLINs. In addition to subsidizing net distribution in the health sector, PSI/Kenya trained over 6,400 health care providers in over 80% of the public and mission health facilities countrywide through 2005. Training focused on promoting purchase and use of ITNs in the context of broader malaria prevention and treatment messages. At antenatal clinics nurses promote purchase and use of ITNs by vulnerable groups during routine consultations. The ITN commercial sector began to grow dramatically in 2004 and 2005 following considerable advertising and communications support from PSI. PSI supplies free insecticide treatment kits to manufacturers and distributors so that almost all commercial nets are now bundled with an ITN treatment kit. The number of commercial ITN brands has more than doubled since 2002 and the average price has declined from approximately USD$6 to less than $4. PSI/Kenya's NGO partnerships further expand ITN delivery. The program
has developed partnerships with more than ten NGOs, and over 200 community
and faith-based organizations. Smaller NGOs that work with rural communities
are uniquely positioned to educate and promote the use of ITNs within
those communities, and are an excellent means by which to reach beyond
the health facilities directly to people's homes. PSI trains NGOs and
community groups in malaria prevention, and supplies heavily subsidized
ITNs for delivery in the community. — David Walker, PSI/Kenya
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