The Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union has reiterated its commitment of working with the county governments to up their role of promoting preventive measures so as to decongest hospitals.
Speaking during a familiarization tour with the county public health practitioners, the union’s Secretary General Brown Ashila said his members will up their game to ensure a healthy population and reduce the burden of treating diseases that could otherwise be prevented.
He observed that communicable diseases like Tuberculosis (TB), malaria, sexually transmitted infections and flu are the leading causes of death and can be prevented if the public health officials are keen on their job.
“We are a union that wants good for the people. We are not in any fight with the county governments, but our aim is to work closely with the county leadership to promote the health of the people,” he said.
The union leader and Narok County Director of Public Health Edward Tankoi held meetings with the County Executive Member in charge of health Antony Namunguk and County Chief Officer in charge of Preventive services, Lucy Kashu.
“We are glad that the top county leadership led by Governor Patrick Ntutu understand our role and they are in support of shifting from curative to preventive measures. We want to continue working with them to decongest our hospitals,” he said.
Tankoi asked the county governments to employ more public health officials and technicians to be able to help to mitigate many diseases treated in local hospitals.
At the same time, the Public Health practitioners elected their branch leaders, where John Kiu was elected unopposed as the branch chairperson.
While thanking his colleagues for trusting in him, Kiu promised to ensure that the welfare of the 98 public health practitioners in the county is well taken care of.
The meeting was held at the Narok county referral hospital premises.
By Ann Salaton
