By Mandere Onyinkwa
The Ministry of Health has intensified preparedness and disease surveillance measures ahead of projected El Nino rains, with counties considered at higher risk being placed under closer monitoring.
Speaking in Karumandi, Kirinyaga County, on Saturday, State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said the ministry had activated its contingency plan and was working closely with county governments to prepare for the expected heavy rains.
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Muthoni said information sharing between the national and county governments was being strengthened to facilitate a coordinated response to potential public health threats associated with the rains.
She said counties with densely populated settlements, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret, were among those being closely monitored for possible outbreaks of waterborne and vector-borne diseases.
The PS spoke after visiting elderly residents in their homes in Karumandi, where she distributed mosquito nets and blankets to help them prepare for the rainy season.
Muthoni said the ministry was also using Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to intensify public education on disease prevention.
“We have activated the Community Health Promoters, and we are training them every Monday evening on key messages that they should pass on to the community ahead of the El Nino rains,” she said.
She urged residents to clear bushes around their homes, unclog drainage systems and maintain high standards of hygiene to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks.
According to Muthoni, essential kits for CHPs were also being replenished to ensure they had the necessary equipment to serve residents in their respective localities.
She also urged Kenyans to exercise caution over the safety of water used for drinking and cooking as the rains intensify, warning that contaminated water could increase the spread of diseases.
During the visit, Muthoni also engaged residents on government programmes in the region, including the Social Health Insurance programme.
