Government Strengthens Health Preparedness Amid Ongoing Long Rains
By Ruth Sang
The Kenyan government initiated its health preparedness mission to address health threats which stem from the current long rains period. The government specifically aims to stop waterborne disease outbreaks while it protects at-risk populations throughout the nation.
Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni announced during her Friday morning speech on Inooro FM’s Hagaria Show that the Kenyan Ministry of Health has established new initiatives which will help reduce flood damage and protect public health.
The ministry partners with developing organizations and county authorities to establish systems which will help them discover potential disease outbreaks at an early stage.
The health department monitors health threats which occur during the rainy season while it builds better partnerships with counties and fosters improved disease monitoring and develops fast-response systems which will be activated according to the current situation.
The national Emergency Operations Centre has been activated by the government to enable emergency personnel to respond swiftly to emergencies resulting from heavy rain and flooding in affected areas.
The rainy season brings increased disease risk for Cholera Typhoid fever and Malaria in areas where people have poor sanitation, and they lack access to clean drinking water according to Muthoni.
Kenyans need to take preventive steps during the rainy season which protect their families according to the official. The official said people should wash their hands again, they should boil all drinking water, they need to throw away their waste properly, and they should visit a doctor immediately after they notice any signs of sickness.
Muthoni described how Community Health Promoters improve health education for people who live in remote areas. The workers who work in this capacity provide hygiene education and sanitation training and disease prevention instruction to families.
The Principal Secretary stated that Community Health Promoters serve an essential function in public health by teaching families about hygiene and preventive measures which should be taken during rainy seasons.
The radio interview included her reporting about current healthcare financing reforms which the Social Health Authority is implementing.
The authority works to increase healthcare service availability to all Kenyans according to Muthoni. This will especially help vulnerable and marginalized groups who need to pay lower premiums to access most health services.
The Social Health Authority enables more citizens to access medical treatment without experiencing financial difficulties according to the statement which he made about government’s efforts to improve universal health coverage.
The government asked all communities to stay vigilant throughout the rainy season while they work together with health officials to stop disease outbreaks and create safe and healthy living conditions throughout the country.
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