Baringo committed to anti-malaria war, says official
Baringo Health chief officer Dr Gideon Toromo has assured residents of Tirioko ward in Tiaty that the county government is committed to containing the current malaria outbreak in the shortest time possible.
While allaying fears that there were insufficient drugs, Toromo said more medical personnel have been dispatched to the ground and should control the outbreak within the next two weeks.
The official, who confirmed that seven people have died of malaria as of yesterday, urged residents to use preventative malaria control methods such as the use of hospital insect treated nets (ITNs), which are available and issued for free.
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“I can confidently state that the current upsurge is not worse than the one that occurred in 2017. I only urge people to seek medical attention immediately and they should not wait until they are too weak to walk,” he said.
Seek treatment
Toromo said the county, through the Public Health department, had intensified distribution of treated mosquito nets, medical supplies, and public education on the prevention of malaria.
He said the department has dispatched more than 50,000 doses of anti-malaria drugs, and that out of 37 patients whose blood samples were taken for testing 22 tested positives, which represents 53 per cent.
Addressing the press in his Kabarnet office on the malaria outbreak, Toromo advised residents of the worst-hit areas of Gulel Atirir, Chesawach, Kongor, Chesotim, Lokis, and Akoret to seek prompt treatment whenever they detected any symptoms of malaria to avoid late reporting and loss of lives.
He said since the upsurge was reported, over 400 cases have been treated for malaria.
The official cited inaccessibility of the worst affected areas owing to poor road networks as a major hindrance to reaching the sick in time. He also lamented a shortage of personnel.
Avail vehicles
He urged well-wishers, partners, NGOs to intervene by availing vehicles and personnel so that the high number of the sick can be reached within the shortest time.
At the same time, Toromo assured residents that issues which delayed completion of Akoret health facility had been addressed and the contractor should be back on-site immediately. -KNA
