By Christine Lagat NAIROBI (Xinhua) — The Kenyan government should channel new resources towards modernization of urban sewerage infrastructure in order to contain a cholera outbreak that has claimed dozens of lives since last year, an official from a pan-African health lobby said on Wednesday.
“The resurgence of cholera in several parts of Kenya has revived a national discourse about the disease.
A report from the ministry of health indicated that a cholera outbreak had affected 2,210 people in 16 counties by mid-August this year.
So far, 32 people have died from cholera in the worst affected counties and the toll could rise against a backdrop of weak surveillance and response strategy.
Gitahi noted that climatic shocks, ill-equipped health facilities and limited investments in rural sanitation have worsened the burden of water-borne diseases in Kenya.
“We need stricter enforcement of public health standards and constant disease surveillance for cholera and other public health threats,” said Gitahi, adding that prosper housing and improved living conditions are key to preventing cholera outbreaks in urban areas.
He revealed that Amref Health Africa has partnered with industry to improve the capacity of community health workers in Kenya to detect and treat cholera cases.
They can help keep communities out of danger through hygiene education, surveillance and treatment,” said Gitahi.