Mandera Governor Ali Roba falls victim to Chikungunya

Mandera Governor Ali Roba has also become a victim of Chikungunya, a mosquito-borne viral disease.

Speaking during Madaraka Day celebrations in Mandera Town Wednesday, Mr Roba appealed for more medical support to curb the spread of the disease that has affected over 500 people.

“Chikungunya does not discriminate. In Somali language we call it Adala, meaning justice. It has affected most of us and we need to go and rest,” said Mr Roba, who did not say if he is undergoing treatment.

The governor fell sick on Monday, and on Tuesday he was seen supporting himself on a walking stick as he reported to work.

“Luckily, Chikungunya does not kill but its effects are not a good experience,” he added.

Mr Roba spoke even as a majority of leaders skipped the celebrations.

SHUNNED EVENT

Senator Billow Kerrow and seven MPs shunned the event while there were four Members of the County Assembly out of the 38 legislators present.

“Today, we could hardly hold this function because of the problem of Chikungunya and cholera, which has negatively affected the people of Mandera,” said Mr Roba.

He said most leaders and members of the public who were expected failed to show up as they were suffering from Chikungunya like him or are infected with or affected by cholera, which has claimed 16 lives in a month.

“We have 1,008 victims of cholera and we have continued receiving admissions every day in our hospital, which calls for support from other health stakeholders,” said the governor.

HOSPITAL OUTSTRETCHED

He announced that the cholera treatment centre set up at the Mandera County Referral Hospital was overstretched and will be moved to Moi Stadium to accommodate more patients.

Mr Roba said more deaths go unrecorded in villages since most patients are not interested in seeking medication.

“We are informed that there are those who do not bring patients to hospitals, and we don’t know how many are dying in the villages, but we want any suspected case brought to hospital,” said Mr Roba.

Some deaths, the governor said, occurred because of late admission of patients and called on the residents to report emergencies promptly.

“The biggest challenge we are facing is getting assistance from neighbouring countries in curbing the spread of the diseases since they lack good medical services,” said Mr Roba.

SUPPORT ETHIOPIA, SOMALIA

He asked the national government and other health stakeholders to extend medical support to Somalia and Ethiopia to deal with the crisis.

“Somalia, Ethiopia and Mandera is one community and the disease control we apply here should extend to these areas since people interact through many activities,” he said.

Mandera borders Ethiopia and Somalia.

County Commissioner Fredrick Shisia said the national government was committed to dealing with the disease outbreak, saying a team of medical experts had been deployed in the town.

“I urge the locals to follow the health directives given to us by those dealing with the crisis until the situation gets better,” he said.