The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed its satisfaction on the ongoing efforts to curb the spread of Cholera in Garissa county where over 2000 cases have been reported with 11 deaths since October last year.
Some of the measures that both the Ministry of Health and the County Government have undertaken include oral vaccination against cholera, decongestion of refugee camps in Dadaab sub county and community sensitization on preventive measures.
Speaking after a meeting with health stakeholders at the Garissa county commissioner’s office on Friday, WHO Country Representative Dr. Abdulrahman Diallo said that his officials in collaboration with the ministry of health and the county government have made major strides in combating the transmission of cholera.
WHO’s Garissa team led by Dr. Julius Wekesa however noted that more needs to be done especially on the provision of clean water, sanitation and proper food handling.
“We have done the oral vaccination against the disease but that is not a magic bullet that will make everything go away,” Wekesa said. “Personal hygiene, Clean water, sanitation and proper handling of food is the key in dealing with cholera for good,” he added.
Garissa County Health CEC Mr. Ahmed Nadhir on his part, while thanking WHO for its commitment to the health of the people of Garissa, noted that health need a multi-sectoral approach bringing on table all stakeholders so that the Kenyan people can stay healthy.
He said that the county government will continue to put in place measures that will not only stop the spread of Cholera but also outbreaks of other diseases.
By Sameer Hassan
