Lodwar – October 9, 2025 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
At the County Health Headquarters in Lodwar, senior health officials, program heads, and community health representatives gathered to discuss a way forward regarding growing toll of alcohol and drug abuse on the people of Turkana.
The meeting, chaired by Daniel Esimit, Deputy Director for Preventive and Promotive Health Services, painted a sobering picture of how deeply alcohol misuse has woven itself into the social and health fabric of the county.
Presentations by the Directorate of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Control revealed a troubling trend: rising alcohol use is silently eroding progress in several key health areas, including Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), nutrition, HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis, and mental health.
“Alcohol is not just a social problem; it’s a public health emergency,” said Daniel Ayogo, Alcohol and Drugs Control Unit. The Deputy Director added, “It touches every aspect of life — from broken families and lost livelihoods to overburdened health systems,”
The discussion highlighted multiple risk factors driving alcohol consumption and dependence in Turkana. These include weak enforcement of existing laws, family and social pressures, parenting challenges, trauma, depression, cultural acceptance of alcohol, peer influence, economic hardships, easy access to alcohol, and heavy social media influence.
The effects of alcohol misuse were described as far-reaching. Individuals face health risks including brain damage, depression, anxiety, and physical harm. Families and communities experience broken relationships, lost productivity, violence, and poor adherence to treatment of TB, HIV and AIDS. This is while the government bears the cost through increased healthcare demand and social interventions.
The team proposed cross-cutting recommendations to strengthen the county’s response. Director of Community Health Services, Dr Joseph Lolepo, outlined a three-step plan that includes developing a training package on rehabilitation and psycho-social support, building the capacity of Community Health Promoters (CHPs), and establishing a system to track implementation and measure success.
For people living with TB, the impact is especially severe. Abdirahman Musa, the County Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Coordinator, noted that alcohol abuse has made it harder for patients to stick to medication schedules. “We estimate that nearly 60 percent of TB patients have not been identified,” he said. “Many of them are in drinking dens where the air circulation is poor and the risks of TB transmission, HIV infection, and gender-based violence are high,”
The meeting also heard calls to look beyond alcohol. “Other drugs like miraa, muguka, bhang, and glue are taking a serious toll on our young people,” warned Ibrahim Echuman, Mental Health Lead. “We cannot ignore them even as we fight alcohol abuse,”
Shadrack Elim, the GBV coordinator proposed that all clinics and outreach programs start using a simple checklist to screen for alcohol use — a step that could reveal just how widespread the problem is. Chris Lirunde (Public Health) and Ruth Areman (Health Promotions) called for the department to lead by example by rehabilitating affected staff and communities.
Director Esimit urged the team to start small but act fast. “We have low-hanging fruits,” he said. “Let’s begin by integrating screening for drug-use into our existing health services and programs. Let’s also train our healthcare workers and community health promoters to identify and refer those who need help. We must also bring in the national institutions to enhance community sensitization,”
As the meeting closed, there was a renewed sense of purpose. The Health Department plans to roll out training for health workers and CHPs, expand screening and referral services, and strengthen collaboration with national agencies. A follow-up workshop will set clear performance indicators to track progress.
According to Stephen Kangiros Acting Director of Alcohol, Drugs, and Substance Abuse Control, Turkana cannot afford to lose more lives and livelihoods to alcohol and drugs. “Through collective action, awareness, and stronger community support, we will turn the tide toward recovery and resilience,” he stated.
