Saturday is World Malaria Day.

This year's theme is "Counting Malaria out Towards a Malaria Free Kenya".

The Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation held malaria day celebrations in Malindi, an area where the disease is endemic.

And in Thika health officials held door-to-door campaigns where all children under the age of five benefited from free treated mosquito nets.

The officials also held clean up exercises in Thika, Juja, Ruiru, Githurai and Gatanga to sensitize the public on ways of getting rid of the disease.

Thika district public health officer Julius Inyingi who led the exercise urged the residents to get rid of stagnant water, sleep under treated mosquito nets and urged anyone with symptoms of malaria to visit a hospital within 24 hours saying treatment for malaria in public hospitals in Kenya is free.

Inyingi further urged the residents to visit government clinics for free mosquito nets and pregnant women to visit government clinics for free anti malaria medicine.

Malaria, which is a life threatening disease, is one of the public health challenges contributing to poverty in Africa and causes at least one million deaths annually.

The disease remains one of the leading causes of deaths among young children and the most serious threat to the health of pregnant women and newborns in Kenya.

Eighty six per cent of malaria cases occur in Africa but it nevertheless remains a global problem also affecting countries in large parts of Asia and Latin America.

A report released by the Red Cross Society to mark this year's Malaria Day however warns that malaria will not be eradicated unless the distribution of mosquito nets is accompanied by extensive and prolonged community education and empowerment efforts.

"Since 2002, the distribution of long-lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets has increased ten-fold in sub-Saharan Africa", says the report dubbed "The Winning Formula to Beat Malaria".

"Yet, malaria is still killing one million people every year "

"Communities must own the response if malaria prevention is to be successful. Families at risk of being infected with the disease must know how to properly use nets and fully understand the risks they are taking if simple preventive steps are neglected," says Jason Peat, head of IFRC global malaria programme in Geneva.

The report cites the malaria programme currently underway in parts of Haiti, where malaria is still endemic.

"In Haiti, our volunteers based in the affected communities use the creole language to inform communities about the dangers of malaria. The fact that they come from the very same communities makes them more capable to understand and cope with social and cultural issues that might arise over the use of the nets," concludes Jason Peat.

As a result of Red Cross / Red Crescent net distributions, since 2002 more than 289,000 malaria deaths have been averted, while 17.5 million people have been protected, the report says.