LG air conditioners to keep malaria at bay for Kisumu infants

LG anti-mosquito air conditioners are providing hope in the fight against malaria in Kisumu County following their installation in children wards of two hospitals in the county.

LG mosquito-repelling air conditioners have been installed in the children’s wards of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital as well as Kisumu District Hospital.

The two hospitals which have an approximate combined bed capacity of 350 for children under the age of five will be protected from mosquitos by LG’s latest range of air conditioners powered with mosquito away technology, offering an effective, non-toxic way of repelling mosquitos.

Children under the age of five years are a key vulnerable group owing to their low immunity to malaria. “LG mosquito air conditioners are designed to assist local consumers in their daily fight against mosquitos,” said Mr. Tae-Ick Son, LG East and Central Africa Managing Director.

He added: “They are specially designed with capabilities to repel mosquitos away and prevent them from entering the room with ultrasonic technology, our innovative mosquito away air conditioners present a clean and safe, alternative,” he concluded.

The air conditioners also deliver fast and powerful cooling, along with a new system that balances temperature and humidity levels, to maintain the perfect indoor atmosphere. The air conditioners were donated by Ecobank Kenya when it unveiled an anti-malaria campaign to lower mortality from the disease in Kisumu.

Over 1,000 households will benefit from insecticide treated nets (ITNs) distributed by the bank in the campaign dubbed “Stop Malaria Now”.  Another 600 homes will benefit from indoor residual spraying to curb mosquito breeding.

Malaria remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Kenya, especially in the vulnerable groups; children under 5years, pregnant mothers and the elderly.Even though the disease is preventable, it is responsible for 30%of outpatient consultation cases, 19% of hospital admissions and 3- 5%of inpatient deaths in Kenya.

Kisumu County falls in the lake endemic zone and has a prevalence rate of 38 percent as per the Kenya malaria indicator survey of 2010, the most current survey in the country.