Lodwar – February 20, 2026 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

The County Government concluded a five-day workshop on response to Marburg Virus Disease and other viral hemorrhagic fevers where 60 healthcare workers, security officers, and chiefs were trained.

This was intended to intensify preparedness measures following a regional public health alert in Jinka, Ethiopia.

Speaking during the workshop, the Acting Director for Preventive and Promotive Health, James Ekamais, noted that the County Government’s rapid response teams are now better equipped to address emerging epidemic threats.

“This training significantly strengthens our preparedness. Our teams have acquired critical knowledge and practical skills required to effectively respond to Marburg Virus Disease and other infectious disease risks,” he said.

He further observed that the County Government has previously managed outbreaks such as Cholera and COVID-19. Rapid response mechanisms were also activated during past Ebola Virus Disease alerts, experiences that have laid a strong foundation for emergency preparedness and response.

The programme integrates the One Health approach, fostering collaboration across human, animal, and environmental health sectors to strengthen surveillance systems and ensure coordinated outbreak response.

Dr. Victoria Kanana of the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI) reaffirmed the National Government’s commitment to supporting counties through capacity building initiatives and provision of essential supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPEs).

“We are committed to preventing avoidable infections among healthcare workers. Protecting frontline responders is fundamental to effectively managing any outbreak,” she stated.

“Enhancing county and sub-county health systems ensures that migrants, host communities, and mobile populations have access to safe, orderly, and responsive health services,” he noted.

The completion of this training marks the conclusion of the first batch of the healthcare workers’ ToT programme. The second batch is scheduled to commence in the coming weeks as part of ongoing efforts to build a resilient health workforce. This will strengthen preparedness frameworks to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging public health threats.

The training was supported by GIZ through the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with KNPHI, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and the German Epidemic Preparedness Team (SEEG).