Kibish – February 14, 2026 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
The County Government, through the Department of Health and Medical Services, has concluded a five-day Joint Support Supervision (JSS) exercise in Kibish and Turkana North sub-counties to reinforce cross-border health preparedness.
Supported by the International Rescue Committee’s Core Group Partners’ Project (CGPP), the multi-sectoral team visited 14 out of 17 health facilities to assess service delivery, surveillance systems, and community health structures in border areas neighboring Ethiopia, Uganda, and South Sudan.
The supervision brought together officers from health, livestock, and environmental sectors to evaluate progress at facility and community levels. According to County One Health Coordinator Kipkorir Rotich, “the exercise focused on community engagement, facility assessments, and strengthening cross-border coordination mechanisms to ensure communities are better prepared to detect and respond to zoonotic and priority diseases,”
All 17 health facilities in Kibish Sub-County, including Kaikor, were assessed, with health workers receiving mentorship and on-the-job training in disease surveillance, key health messaging, preparedness planning, data management, and reporting.
Samuel Lokemer, Assistant Director Medical Services called on facility teams to be pro-active and coordinate with community-centred teams for effective delivery of medical services. County Disease Surveillance Coordinator Absolom Kuya reported that weekly reporting rates now stand at 90 percent, reflecting improved compliance.
Kibish Sub-County Medical Officer of Health Jacob Nakuleu said the JSS also helped identify service delivery gaps using data from the Kenya Health Information System and findings from the One Health–Kimormor outreach conducted in December. “Recent data show declines in immunization coverage, antenatal care attendance, and skilled deliveries in the last quarter, prompting renewed focus on outreach and follow-up,”
A major boost to immunization services was the strengthening of cold chain infrastructure. Six new solar-powered refrigerators were installed and others assessed for repair, achieving 100 percent cold chain coverage across all 17 facilities in Kibish Sub-County. County EPI Coordinator Daniel Erus said the improved system is expected to increase immunization uptake toward the national target of at least 80 percent coverage and significantly reduce zero-dose cases among children under one year. “Additional facilities are set to receive new refrigerators in the coming weeks,”
Despite these improvements, drought-related migration remains a key challenge. Pastoralists make up approximately 60 percent of Kibish Sub-County’s population, with many families moving up to 100 kilometers in search of water and pasture.
This mobility has disrupted routine health services, especially immunization tracking, leading to increased defaulters and cases of malnutrition among children under five. Nakuleu noted that health teams are now conducting targeted outreaches to reach displaced populations wherever they settle.
Community engagement formed a central part of the supervision. IRC CGPP Coordinator Jamal Abdi said the team conducted quality assurance spot checks and engaged at least 100 community members in discussions to assess their knowledge of zoonotic and priority disease surveillance. “The team also evaluated how well community health systems are integrated at the grassroots level,”
From the engagement sessions, Rotich observed that communities are increasingly aware of pandemic and epidemic risks and are willing to report unusual health events to facilities and public health officers. He attributed this progress to strengthened community surveillance systems.
Community Health Promoters (CHPs), community disease reporters, and mobilizers were recognized for their frontline role. Having undergone training in epidemic preparedness, they played a critical role during the recent Marburg virus scare along the Kibish corridor by enhancing surveillance and timely reporting. Community members expressed confidence in their local health teams, noting that they are now better equipped to identify, manage, and refer suspected cases promptly.
Kibish Public Health Officer Nicholas Kandagor confirmed that recent capacity-building forums have further strengthened community health teams’ readiness to respond to public health concerns. Sub-County Veterinary Officer Mwangi Kepher emphasized the need for continuous training of information disseminators to ensure consistent and accurate messaging across communities.
Livestock health was also assessed during the exercise. Assistant Director of Livestock Services Ezekiel Makori observed that brucellosis remains prevalent in livestock and small stock. However, he noted improved hygiene practices among pastoralists, reducing the risk of transmission to humans. Communities were also found to be knowledgeable about the signs and symptoms of zoonotic diseases such as anthrax, rabies, polio, and measles.
Facility in-charges committed to applying lessons learned from the supervision to improve service delivery and meet performance targets. They highlighted the importance of teamwork, strong community linkages, and effective referral systems in improving health indicators, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.
Community mobilizers and health promoters, however, called for sustained support for outreach services, especially during prolonged drought. They noted that children who move far from health facilities risk missing routine immunizations and other essential services, increasing vulnerability to preventable diseases such as measles.
Overall, the Joint Support Supervision exercise underscored the importance of integrated, cross-sectoral collaboration in strengthening health systems in border areas. With enhanced surveillance, empowered community health structures, improved cold chain systems, and expanded outreach efforts, Kibish and Turkana North sub-counties are better positioned to prevent, detect, and respond effectively to cross-border disease threats.
