Kibish – 13th September, 2024 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
The County Government, through County One Health Unit, seeks to strengthened routine immunisation and community-based surveillance of priority zoonotic diseases (PZDs) in all the border health facilities of Kibish Sub-county.
The five-day support supervision, supported by Core Group Partners Project (CGPP) through International Rescue Committee, saw the team visit eight facilities to access the status of immunisation and surveillance for performance improvement.
The team, led by Deputy Director of Public Health Daniel Esimit, met facility in-charges, community mobilizers (supported by CGPP), community disease reporters and community health promoters.
Deputy Director Esimit urged the above mentioned individuals to strengthen their collaboration to reduce the transmission of zoonotic diseases, which can be controlled and treated if diagnosed early.
“Transmission of priority zoonotic and vaccine-preventable diseases is very high in border areas because of the movement of animals and people in search for food, pasture and water,”he said, advising them to be cautious and report any cases immediately.
The priority zoonotic diseases include rabies, anthrax, Rift Valley Fever, brucellosis and trypanosomiasis.
The facility in-charge at Kaikor sub-county Hospital, Calistus Naweet, noted that despite the distance, there is improvement on the number of visits for pregnant women as well as delivery compared to before, commending the work of the CHPs.
A CHP for Natapar village in Napak, Nancy Abuka, explained that women in her community attended antenatal care clinics and ensured that they took their children for immunization.
Regina Ikimat, a mother of five, explained that they had been taught on various livestock diseases, which have assisted in the prevention of priority zoonotic diseases.
Other team members present included County Health Reproductive Health Coordinator – Gabriel Lokuwam, One Health Coordinator (Health) – Robert Rotich, CGPP Project Manager (Turkana County) – Abdi Jamal, and members of the sub-county health management and veterinary teams
The supervision was conducted in Loruth Dispensary, Kaikor Sub-county Hospital, Napak Dispensary, Koyasa Dispensary, Lokamarinyang Dispensary, Kibish Sub-county Hospital, Meyan Dispensary and Kokuro Health Centre.
