Lobei – May 28, 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations)

In sustained efforts geared towards the reduction of avoidable blindness in the County, the Department for Health and Sanitation has rolled out a ten-day trachoma surveillance exercise to determine the presence of Trachoma in Loima Sub-County.

The survey supported by Sightsavers, reached 30 households drawn from 30 villages including Lobei, Urum, Nachacha, Kospir, and Lorengippi among others. The survey assessed Trachoma Trachiasis (TT) and Trachoma Follicles (TF) among children aged between one and nine years and also included people above the age of 15.

Addressing the household members, the County Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health, Janerose Tioko emphasized the importance of practising safe hygiene practices. These include hand washing and safe disposal of solid waste as a measure to curb the prevalence of trachoma burden. This is aligned with the Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvement (SAFE) strategies that the County Government has put in place.

“We should carry out safe hygiene practices, drink clean water, and use latrines to avoid contracting Trachoma and reduce its spread,” she said.

She also encouraged the household members to promote facial cleanliness since trachoma spreads through contact with flies that carry the bacteria via hands, clothes, or beddings that have been in contact with an infected person.

County Ophthalmic Services Coordinator, Samson Lokele reiterated that the community should promote healthy hygiene habits, adhere to prescribed antibiotics, and improve surrounding conditions to reduce transmissions.

Following the survey, the infected patients with Trachoma Trichiasis and Trachoma Follicles received antibiotics for treatment.

The County Health Management and Sightsavers Kenya teams as well as Facility-in Charges and several Community Health Promoters were present.