Kilifi county government Wednesday received medicine worth Sh 6.3 million from the national government through the Ministry of Health to combat the spread of waterborne diseases in the area that has been hit by heavy rains and floods.
The batch was received by Kilifi Deputy Governor Ms Flora Chibule at Kilifi County Referral Hospital during the visit of Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha when she oversaw the delivery of cholera kits, and Health Products and Technologies (HPTs).
The CS informed that in the batch, medicine worth Sh5.8 million will be used for the treatment of water-borne diseases while the other worth Sh500,000 will be used for infection control.
“Because we want to ensure we prevent diseases we have brought drugs for infection control worth 500,000 shillings. Areas with stagnant water should get sprayed, including houses in those areas so that we can be able to protect children against illnesses,” CS Nakhumicha said.
She also noted that the national government also provided 5,000 mosquito nets to be distributed in the county and that the government would later dispatch more of the nets so that everyone gets access to them especially those that have been affected by floods.
To support households that have been displaced due to floods in the region, the CS stated that the national government will be providing food aid to the victims.
She urged Community Health Promoters to ensure that they use the cholera kits well while encouraging residents to welcome CHPs into their homes as they will help improve the status of health in the county.
Besides the gadget for checking pressure and sugar levels, the CS explained, that there are other drugs that have been added to the kits. Among them are water treatment tablets to be used in drinking water and water used for cooking hence combating the spread of waterborne diseases.
“Also in these kits is deworming medicine. One of the ways to ensure good health is through regular deworming. We have brought deworming medicine for both adults and children”, the CS noted.
The CS was accompanied by other government officials including Government Spokesperson Dr Isaac Mwaura and Public Health and Professional Standards PS Mary Muthoni.
By Cynthia Maseno and Jackson Msanzu
