Lodwar, 28 November 2024 (Public Communications and Media Relations)

The Turkana County Department of Health and Sanitation has concluded a two-day pilot survey to gather data for the Rural Urban Sanitation Hygiene-Real Time Monitoring Information System (RUSH-RTMIS). This system is designed to map hygiene and sanitation activities at the community level.

The survey, supported by LOKADO, sampled 62 households in four villages in Turkana Central Sub-county. The aim was to identify water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) gaps.

During the assessment, Turkana Central Deputy Sub-county Public Health Officer, Dinah Toroitich, emphasized the importance of latrine use and hygiene practices in preventing illnesses. “The activity is part of the public health directorate’s commitment to addressing gaps in data collection, monitoring, and WASH management to inform effective programming at all administrative levels,” she said.

It is expected that RUSH-RTMIS will inform WASH policymaking by providing accurate data on the county’s WASH status.

Charles Losike, a community health promoter in Napetao, shared his experience, stating, “Since I constructed a latrine with handwashing facilities, cases of diarrhea have significantly reduced due to a decrease in open defecation. My family has been healthier ever since.”