Health Ministry steps up efforts to mitigate flooding effects

The Ministry of Health has developed a raft of mitigation measures to counter the effects of the ongoing flooding in several parts of the country.

So far, the Ministry of Health has established a national task force on Response to public health concerns and activated the National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre.

During a visit to the Tana Delta on Sunday, where 35 cases of cholera have been reported, Health PS Mary Muthoni stated that the national government will support the county to prevent further spread.

PS Muthoni said the government has increased surveillance across the country to promptly detect and address diseases emerging from any corner of the country.

The Ministry of Health is also scheduled to provide mosquito nets from next week as well as nutrition supplements, medicines and laboratory supplies to prevent malaria and vector-borne diseases in flood affected areas.

The PS commended the Kenya Red Cross for distributing nets 4, 110 households and prepositioning 14 rescue boats in highrisk counties such as Tana River, Kisumu, Nairobi, Garissa, Kilifi, Makueni, Mombasa, Lamu, Kwale, Kajiado, Machakos, Busia among other counties.

According to the latest data released on by the Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, the flooding has resulted to the injury of 164 Kenyans while 72 persons are currently reported missing.

In addition, 228 people have lost their lives while approximately 212,630 persons have been displaced.

The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned that heavy rains accompanied by strong winds will be experienced along the coastal strip, affecting the counties of Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, and Lamu from Monday through to Tuesday.