The Department of Public Health in Narok County has awarded Olokurto ward an Open Defecation Free (ODF) status after it emerged that all the homesteads in the area had built pit latrines.
Narok Chief Officer (CO) in charge of Preventive and Promotive Health, Ms. Lucy Kashu lauded the residents for adhering to the public health regulations to improve hygiene in the area.
She reiterated that building latrines was key to eliminating communicable diseases caused by an unhygienic environment like; cholera, diarrhea, amoeba, typhoid, and vomiting.
Ms. Kashu challenged other wards in the county to follow suit and ensure 100 percent toilet coverage, saying Olokurto ward was the first place to attain ODF in the sub-county.
The Chief Officer commended the community health promoters for the outreach messages and for supporting the residents in constructing the toilets.
On his part, the County Director of Public Health Edward Tankoi disclosed that only six out of 30 wards in Narok have attained a status of ODF. The other five wards are Ilkerin, Kapsosian, Ongata Barikoi, Olomasani, and Sagamian wards.
He recalled that the journey of achieving ODF was not smooth as the team faced numerous challenges among them, inadequate funding that limited the movement of Community Health Promoters and a hostile community that did not see any value in constructing a latrine.
Naituyupaki sub-location Chief Benson Manyuele confirmed that all homesteads in his area have dug a pit latrine and promised to continue monitoring to ensure all residents had a pit latrine.
The function was also attended by Narok Director of Health Francis Kiio and a host of medics from the Narok County Referral Hospital.
During the celebrations, Olokurto ward was awarded a certificate while Peter Sanare and Evans Kusero were also recognized and awarded for championing the building of toilets in the ward.
The celebrations saw residents receive other medical services like the administration of Family Planning drugs, deworming tablets, and vitamin A for children among others.
By Ann Salaton
