The Turkana County Government, in partnership with Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH), distributed non-food items (NFIs) to households that were displaced by rising water levels in Lake Turkana.
The exercise was conducted over a five-day’ period, benefiting hundreds of residents at Namukuse and Long’ech in Kangatotha Ward, Turkana Central.
Water storage tanks, water purifying tablets, soap, sanitary towels, and buckets—critical items for enhancing Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH), standards and reducing vulnerability to waterborne diseases—were distributed.
Speaking during the exercise, Principal Public Health Officer Rael Akoru emphasised the importance of proper hygiene and sanitation practices, which are essential in addressing health risks associated with the backflow of the lake.
“The NFIs will enable the community to recover from the exposure to hygiene risks caused by the backflow of the lake that indicates the impact of climate change,” she said.
She further acknowledged the local administrators’ efforts for mobilising the community and encouraged schoolgirls to turn out for sanitary pads to enable them to improve healthy menstrual hygiene.
Deputy Health Promotion Officer Nancy Birech encouraged the communities to shun open defecation along the lake as it contributed to the emergence of cholera cases.
“As a community, let us practice the use of toilets, as it will reduce instances of WASH-related diseases,” she said.
The activity funded by Unicef Kenya was part of an emergency flood response project that will subsequently extend to other flood-affected areas in Turkana North, South, and East Sub-counties.
Present during the exercise were County IPC Coordinator Mary Loter, Turkana Central Sub-County Public Health Officer Peter Mitunda, and Namukuse Location Chief Eyanae Stanley.
By Peter Gitonga
