1st March 2024 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
County Department of Health and Sanitation and UNICEF Kenya have held consultative meetings on emergency response to measles outbreaks in affected sub-counties.
The emergency response is looking to strengthen routine vaccination, increase surveillance, and stop the transmission in high-risk sub-counties of Turkana West, Lokichoggio, Loima, and Turkana North.
Speaking at the meeting County Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive, Peter Lomorukai said that the county department was mobilizing partners and finalizing a microplan that would provide a roadmap for partners’ support.
“Once the microplan is finalized, it will be shared with the partners for their support,” he said.
He also added that there was a need for community engagement and strengthening of outreaches, especially in Loima Sub-county.
“As part of the response, we have to involve the social mobilisation and early education since we will be conducting measles vaccination at the community level,” he mentioned.
County EPI Focal Person Daniel Erus said that with support from UNICEF Kenya, the department had strengthened surveillance at Nadapal in Lokichoggio Sub-county and other cross-border areas.
Present were the County Health Management Team and partner representatives from Kenya Red Cross Society, the National Ministry of Health, and Save the Children.
