Sh500m released for war on cholera

What you need to know:

  • Ms Kassachoon made the announcement hours after President Uhuru Kenyatta directed Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia to take necessary steps to stem further spread of cholera in the country.
  • Mr Kenyatta directed the ministry to develop a strategy for control of cholera, incorporating all the counties since health provision was a devolved function.
  • Dr Muraguri said some of the issues that came up during the meeting included inadequate human resource and limited medical supplies.

Treasury has released Sh500 million to be used in fighting the cholera outbreak that has killed 65 people and left hundreds hospitalised.

Health Principal Secretary Khadijah Kassachoon yesterday said the ministry was keen on stopping further spread of the disease.

The money will be spent on buying medical supplies, providing clean water, creating public awareness and building the counties’ capacity to fight the disease.

So far, 11 counties have been affected by the outbreak with 3,234 cases reported across the country, the PS told a stakeholders’ conference in Nairobi yesterday.

Ms Kassachoon made the announcement hours after President Uhuru Kenyatta directed Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia to take necessary steps to stem further spread of cholera in the country.

In a press release issued after a Cabinet meeting, the President urged county governments to enhance health education to the public on prevention of cholera.

Mr Kenyatta directed the ministry to develop a strategy for control of cholera, incorporating all the counties since health provision was a devolved function.

The stakeholders’ meeting brought together representatives of 47 counties.

“The reason we are meeting today is because we want to establish what the counties have and do not have; how well they are prepared and also to establish the gaps and how we can assist,” Medical Director Nicholas Muraguri said.

Dr Muraguri said some of the issues that came up during the meeting included inadequate human resource and limited medical supplies.

The Ministry of Health has already distributed supplies in the counties, he said and allayed fears that there was a resurgence of the disease in Migori.

He said the suspected new cases reported in Migori were not cholera but dysentery while those in Mombasa were being handled.

Ms Kassachoon played down claims of duplication of roles by national and county governments in the war on cholera.