Nyeri County’s Department of Health Services in collaboration with other stakeholders has launched 2023-2025 County Infection Prevention & Control Advisory Committee (CIPCAC) And County Antimicrobial Stewardship Interagency Committee (CASIC) work plans.
Speaking at the function on Tuesday, Dr Joseph Kiragu the CEC for Health Services lauded the stewardship committees for their exemplary performance.
He emphasised on the need for timeliness awareness on Antimicrobial resistance and Infection Prevention & Control since they are emerging issues.
Dr Kiragu said both committees will work hand in hand to provide a roadmap to the implementation of the set objectives for that particular period.
He said Nyeri County takes pride in pioneering the development of the first-ever CASIC work plan in Kenya in the year 2020. This was after the establishment of a CASIC committee in March 2019 where Dr Oscar Agoro was appointed as the County Focal Person.
Other focal persons were appointed from the Department of Agriculture and that of Environment.
He added that the success of Antimicrobial Awareness (AMR) in Nyeri has been heavily contributed by the mutual collaboration of the three entities with support from various stakeholders.
Boniface Macharia, Infection Prevention and Control Focal Person noted that so far, the County has made tremendous milestones including an established and functional IPC Programme and Enhanced staff induction among others.
“It is our responsibility as health workers to integrate IPC as part of Healthcare culture,” said Macharia.
On his part, Dr Oscar Agoro noted that since the implementation of the AMR activities in Nyeri County, the problem of AMR has drastically reduced from 61% in 2019 to 47.6% in 2023.
This Agoro said has been achieved by the intensive creation of awareness on the safe use and disposal of antibiotics. Furthermore, AMR takes a multi-sectorial approach involving other Departments like Agriculture since AMR infections in animals can be a risk to humans through contact in the food chain.
Also present was Dr Ndinda Kusu, Country Director at USAID Mtaps Programme recognised the Nyeri Team for their outstanding work adding that for the 2 years the programme has been in Nyeri her team has paid regard to quality and result-oriented commitment to the well-being and safety of the community.
By Beth Ndirangu
