Kisumu set to battle cholera outbreak
Bodaboda operators at Ndhiwa centre force a matatu out of the road during their protest following the disappearance of one of their colleague and his motobike. Nation journalists who were heading to Ndhiwa District hospital to cover a story on Cholera outbreak scampered for safety when the angry mob turned their grievances on them and attempted to steal their camera among other valuables on February 19, 2015. FILE PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- In partnership with Kenya Red Cross, Mr Nyambok said, the county will also provide locals with chemicals to treat their drinking water.
- As a result, Kenya Red Cross Western Coordinator Emmanuel Owako said they have stocked health facilities in these areas with drugs to manage the situation.
- Kenya Red Cross officials said more were likely to suffer should rivers continue breaching banks in the county because the capacity of their rescue centres is small.
The Kisumu County government has procured drugs to fight cholera and other waterborne diseases in flood-hit areas.
Nearly 1,500 people have been affected by flood waters in the lake-side county.
Rivers Obuso, Mahenya and Atedo have breached their banks in Muhoroni, among other sub-counties, destroying crops and submerging houses.
County public health officer Elias Nyambok yesterday said the drugs were to help stop the spread of the disease should it break out.
“The county government is aware of how dangerous floods can be. As a county, we are prepared to handle any health emergencies,” he said.
In partnership with Kenya Red Cross, Mr Nyambok said, the county will also provide locals with chemicals to treat their drinking water.
“We have already distributed mosquito nets to the communities. Malaria is common with this kind of disaster (floods),” he said.
There are fears that residents of flood-hit areas like Nyando, Nyakach, Muhoroni and Kisumu East could contract respiratory diseases due to dampness.
As a result, Kenya Red Cross Western Coordinator Emmanuel Owako said they have stocked health facilities in these areas with drugs to manage the situation.
The announcement comes barely a week after flood victims expressed fears of water-borne diseases breaking out. Mr Ayub Adul, a resident of Kasese Village told the Sunday Nation that his neighbours’ children were sick, and his worry was that his children may fall ill as well.
“I am hoping that they do not get sick. I am alone and I fear that it might be a torture to them,” he said.
A recent assessment by the Kenya Red Cross indicated that most children and the elderly were likely to contract diseases because of lack of food.
Many are surviving on fish that come with flood waters.
Kenya Red Cross officials said more were likely to suffer should rivers continue breaching banks in the county because the capacity of their rescue centres is small.
“We will have a problem with the numbers and the hygiene as well. The toilets are not in a good state,” said Mr Owako.
Kisumu Woman Representative Rose Nyamunga urged the residents to move to higher grounds when they sense danger.
“We are going to work together with other volunteers so that we do not record any deaths from floods,” she said.
Cholera and other water-borne diseases have been affecting Kisumu almost every year due to water scarcity and floods.
