The Department of Health and Sanitation in the county government of Migori has received a boost of 2.1 million worth of assorted medical equipment from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
While flagging off the medical equipment, Health CEC Julius Nyerere said that the wash equipment will be key in fighting cholera which has become a threat to the residents of the county.
He said that the donor support will boost the department’s commitment to ensure that the County make steps towards achieving the national Universal Health Care as enshrined in its Vision 2030.
“I want to thank this great team, right from the sub-county levels to the county level for a commitment to kick the disease out of this County,” he said.
The equipment included 250 boxes of laundry soaps, 4 barrels of Chlorine granules, 50 boxes of aqua tabs, 595 pieces of 10-litre buckets, 2000 pieces of 10-litre jerricans.
The CEC added that the equipment will supplement the already existing efforts to fight the disease, which the department has put in place by distributing drugs to all the sub-county health facilities.
Nyerere, however, warned the public to maintain high levels of cleanliness around them to make work easy for the health department.
“As we do this, I would wish to sensitize the public to remain alert and maintain high levels of cleanliness as the immediate way to avoid contracting the disease,” he noted.
The CEC noted that it is the good working environment that has been created by Governor Ochilo Ayacko that has attracted support partners.
“We appreciate the good working environment created by the governor that has ensured that we continue getting supper from partners, UNICEF being one of them,” he said.
He noted that they will prioritize the needy areas, especially the village dispensaries that lack the proper equipment to enable quick response by health practitioners in time of need.
“Our first priority while distributing the equipment will be factoring the most affected areas,” he said.
Mabel Chanzu, Chief Officer for Public Health and Sanitation confirmed that the county has recorded five deaths out of the 132 cases of cholera since its outbreak.
The chief officer said that the health department has embarked on sensitizing the public on preventive measures to ensure containment of the disease to stop its further spread.
“We have embarked on doing a preventative approach by sending our people to the ground to sensitize them on how to contain the disease,” she said.
She noted UNICEF as a partner has been key in ensuring that the county health department has enough supply to ensure that areas affected receive a quick response,” she added.
Her medical services counterpart Roseline Otieno said that the support will go a long way to ensure that there is always available medicine for the sick.
She encouraged the public to be alert and report any suspected cases of the disease for immediate intervention to save lives.
The Chief Officer appealed to other support partners to feel free to partner with the health department for a healthy generation.
About the Author
