Turkana County Health and Sanitation Department has begun a massive five-day measles vaccination campaign in Turkana West Sub-county, to curb the spread of the disease that has so far claimed five lives.
Speaking at Lopiding Sub- County hospital during a vaccination exercise for Nanam and Lokichoggio Wards, Preventive and Promotive health Chief Officer Peter Lomorukai said Turkana West was selected due to the influx of refugees from South Sudan where there was a measles outbreak, and residents returning from Uganda.
Lomorukai said the first measles case was reported in Turkana west Sub County in March this year, within Kalobeyei area adding the cases have risen to 295 as at this month.
“The campaign that started on Tuesday and ends on 9th of this month also targets the nomadic pastoralists to ensure the disease does not spread to the other sub-counties,” he said.
He added the County Government will be further strengthening its routine immunization and integrated outreaches to remote areas of the region.
The CCO Lomorukai was accompanied by the Deputy Directors; Gabriel Lopodo (Family Health), and Dr Joseph Lolepo (Community Health Services).
The campaign is conducted in partnership with among others UNICEF Kenya, IRC– Core Group, MSF-B and Kenya Red Cross Society.
By Peter Gitonga
