The Red Eye disease has spread to Siaya county and the area residents have been urged to maintain high standards of hygiene so as to contain it.
According to the Siaya county commissioner, Nobert Komora, several schools have been affected by the disease, otherwise known as Conjunctivitis.
Addressing this year’s Madaraka day celebrations at the Siaya Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) grounds in Siaya town, Komora said that his office contemplated closing down the educational institutions as a result of the disease but the decision was rescinded after consultations.
“We wanted to close down the affected schools but after consultations with the public health department and ministry of education, it was decided that the disease can better be handled within instead of allowing students home which would otherwise contribute to its spread,” said the commissioner.
Komora urged the public to minimize handshakes and touching their eyes as a way of avoiding the disease.
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the transparent membrane that lines the eyelid and eye ball. The membrane is called the Conjunctiva.
The county commissioner at the same time challenged Siaya residents to increase their level of patriotism and join the rest of the Kenyans in attending national celebrations.
“It is imperative that we take our patriotism a notch higher” said the commissioner who was flanked by among others, the county police commander, Cleti Kimaiyo and the county secretary, Joseph Ogutu who represented Siaya governor, James Orengo.
In his speech read by Ogutu, governor Orengo called on Kenyans to jealously guard devolution which he termed as a key fruit of the struggle for a better Kenya that the country’s fore fathers fought for.
“Through devolution, your voice is heard more clearly in governance decisions that affect you and your neighbours,” said the governor.
Orengo said Kenyans must have an honest country so that they can be able to protect the liberty and be able to use it to build a glittering Kenya.
“We owe a great debt to the sons and daughters of this country who fought for independence” said the governor.
By Philip Onyango
