Kenyan president unveils malaria campaign

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki launched a nationwide anti-malaria campaign Monday.

The cornerstone of the plan will be the provision of free anti-malarial treatment at all health facilities, he said.

"We have decided to provide anti-malaria treatment free of charge because we know sometimes (people) have no money and yet they need urgent treatment when they become sick -- especially children," President Kibaki said.

To kick off the campaign, the government has begun the distribution of free insecticide-treated nets to 1.7 million children countrywide, mainly targeting 24 districts in malaria-prone areas.

Hundreds of thousands of Kenyans are sickened with malaria each year.