Nine people have been confirmed dead in the last two weeks in the Kargi location of Loiyangalani sub-county of Marsabit County in what is suspected to be an outbreak of malaria.
The deaths, also connected to the non-accessibility of Marsabit County Referral Hospital owing to the bad state of roads in the area, have claimed a child, five men, and three women.
Senior assistant chief for Kargi sub-location Moses Galory told KNA at the Kargi health centre where he registered the death of a 22-year-old herder, that there were more than 60 other cases of residents nursing their illnesses at home.
The administrator added that the bad road network in the area has worsened the situation, as referral cases to the county referral hospital could not be executed because the Karagi-Marsabit road is impassable.
“We lost a patient after a vehicle that was taking him to Marsabit got stuck mid-way owing to this poor road,” he said, adding that the road requires urgent attention in order to ease transportation.
Shortages of drugs and rapid test kits at the local health center have also been blamed for the deteriorating health state in the area, with the county government’s health department making efforts to secure some drug reserves at the Moyale sub-county hospital and other facilities across the county.
The Catholic Diocese of Marsabit, through the USAID-funded Nawiri programme is assisting in ferrying the consignments and medical personnel to the area.
The assistant chief appealed to the residents to show up for tests at the health centre now that testing kits and medicine have been availed and to stop treating the sick with herbs.
According to medics at the health centre, the deaths of victims ranging in age from 1 to 70 years could have been complicated by other factors like Kalazar, as victims were exhibiting symptoms akin to the disease.
The sick and those claimed by the disease had liver and spleen complications, and their eyes turned yellow in colour.
Residents appealed to the government to urgently address the situation by providing drugs and an ambulance and also improving the road condition in order to stem more deaths.
Area MCA Christopher Ogom described the situation as dire and called on the authorities concerned to act fast and rectify the situation.
“I would like to urge the county government to prioritize the health sector by allocating adequate funds and ensuring prudent use of the same,” he said, adding that the move would ensure an effective health system was in place.
Mr. Ogom also appealed to his constituents to seek medication at the health facilities now that drugs have been availed instead of resorting to traditional medicine.
Out of 27 tests done today, five turned positive for malaria.
By Sebastian Miriti
