Lokichoggio – 20th September 2024 (Public Communications and Media Relations)

The County One Health Unit visited cross-border health facilities, in Turkana West and Lokichoggio Sub-counties, to assess the impact of the Core Group Partners Project (CGPP) on the community’s health seeking behaviours.

Supported by the CGPP – through the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the team conducted a three-day visit to Nakururum and Nanam Health Centres, Loreng and Oropoi Dispensaries.

County One Health Coordinator for Health, Robert Rotich, said that the feedback would assist in formulating responses that include behaviour change component in line with best practices of health care provision.

Nurse-in-Charge at Nakururum Health Centre, Erick Nyakundi said, “The community health promoters and community disease reporters have assisted in tracing children who have missed the second dose of Measles Rubella vaccine. The uptake has increased from 40% to 160%.”

In Loreng, One Health activities have increased measles vaccination coverage from last year’s 65% to this year’s 70% as evidenced by the facility micro plan and immunization chart.

While the community mobilizer (supported by CGPP) of Oropoi, Fredrick Eporon, said that the community was able to identify the priority zoonotic diseases and understand the importance of immunization for children.

“Nowadays, they bring their children for immunization without any push or reminder,” he noted.

The CGPP Project Manager for Turkana, Abdi Jamal, highlighted the importance of the partnership between the County and IRC-CGPP, assuring IRC-CGPP’s commitment to continue supporting and providing health education on zoonotic diseases and routine immunization. This, he added, would promote positive health seeking behaviours in the community.

The team also visited the border entry point at Nadapal and held a meeting with Port Health Officer Benjamin Kiptarus.

He highlighted their disease prevention efforts, stating, “we screen travellers going to and from South Sudan to ensure infectious diseases are detected, reported, and referred to the nearest health facility which is Lopiding Sub-county Hospital.”

Also present was Andrew Ekaal, Sub-county Disease Surveillance Coordinator for Lokichoggio and Turkana West.