The fight against malaria has received a Sh2.2 billion boost from the US Government.

The grant channelled through the US Agency for International Development (USaid), will extend malaria prevention and control activities in areas most affected by the disease.

USaid gave two NGOs, Health Right International (HRI)-Kenya and Merlin–Kenya Sh1.1 billion each, to implement three-year programmes in North Rift and Nyanza.

The programmes target more than 400,000 children under the age of five and pregnant women.

"We are committed to expanding the work of NGOs and faith-based organisations to reach people with tools and knowledge to control malaria," said the US Malaria Co-ordinator Tim Ziemer.

In Kenya, malaria kills 34,000 children annually (about 90 children daily) and is to blame for the birth of 6,000 underweight babies each year.

The disease is also the leading cause of anaemia among pregnant women. Experts say 25 million Kenyans are at risk of attacks annually.

The disease accounts for 30 per cent of outpatients in hospitals, while 20 per cent of admissions suffer from the disease.

Mr Ziemer said the key to saving lives, especially children, is to expand proven approaches and interventions until they reach all those who need them.

The grants were provided through the President’s Malaria Initiative, an inter-agency initiative led by USaid with the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, as key partners.