Speedy response brings reduction to flood-affected communities in Kenya

Nairobi ‒ This 12 months’s lengthy wet season, which generally lasts from March to Could yearly, has hit Kenya arduous, with sudden heavy rainfall and widespread flooding since mid-April. Over 286 000 individuals have been affected, 47 000 households displaced and 238 deaths have been reported in 37 of the nation’s 47 counties.   

In keeping with Dr Pius Mutuku, medical epidemiologist within the Ministry of Well being, 14 well being amenities have closed and a significant water therapy plant has been affected by flooding, resulting in a scarcity of potable water for 3000 individuals. Forty-four cholera instances have been reported in Tana River County, one of the flood-affected areas.  

The Authorities of Kenya has mounted a multisectoral emergency response, led by the Kenya Catastrophe Emergency Operations Centre within the nation’s capital, Nairobi. The centre gathers data from the 33 affected counties for evaluation and determination making. On the nationwide Public Well being Emergency Operations Centre, round 36 employees are monitoring and main the well being scenario and response, supported by World Well being Group (WHO) and different companions corresponding to Kenya Purple Cross Society, AMREF, FHI360 and Basis for Skilled Improvement. The Ministry of Well being has arrange an incident administration system crew for surveillance, case administration, laboratory, logistics and threat communication and neighborhood engagement to observe and handle illness outbreaks. 

“The entire-of-government strategy, led by President William Ruto, is to make sure that we work throughout all sectors to reduce the ache for thus many,” says Hilary Limo, the supervisor of the Public Well being Emergency Operations Centre. 

The ministry has arrange medical camps, with the assist of Purple Cross, for continuity of well being providers to over 4000 individuals who have been affected by well being facility closure. Over 720 first responders, skilled by WHO, are being deployed or on standby for deployment to flood-affected areas to supply well being providers to displaced individuals on the nation’s 192 camps. Greater than 120 of Kenya’s public well being professionals and specialists, additionally skilled by WHO are deployed on the nationwide stage.

“WHO will proceed to assist the well being emergency response and stay vigilant for illness outbreaks that may simply unfold if not shortly contained. We should be agile and able to reply, led by authorities and together with the companions, to convey reduction to a whole bunch and hundreds of affected individuals,” says Dr Abdourahmane Diallo, WHO consultant in Kenya. 

WHO has additionally procured round 87 cholera, 58 interagency and 20 pneumonia kits which can be being distributed to key counties and may deal with round 10 000 individuals.

“Going ahead we might want to take a look at the influence of the floods, continuity of care and supply resilience capability constructing to communities. We’d like extra fast response groups and can work carefully with companions to mobilize assets for this function,” says Limo.