County embarks on deworming exercise

Busia

Friday, August 25, 2023

KNA by Victoria Magar/Gavin Ochoko

Busia County Health Department has embarked on a deworming exercise with a view to reducing infestation among the local residents.

Speaking to KNA at Busia County Referral Hospital on Thursday, Busia County Coordinator of Neglected Tropical Diseases Evans Shiraku said the four-day exercise targets children above one year and adults who are at risk of contracting intestinal worms across the seven Sub Counties.

Shiraku noted that the exercise targets to deworm residents affected by Schistosomiasis and Bilharzia following a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with Kenya Medical Research Institute in August 2022 aimed at determining the prevalence of the disease in the County.

“An analysis was conducted and the results from the research were out by March this year,” he said, adding that the outcome showed that some Wards from the different Sub Counties were diversely affected.

Shiraku stated that all the five wards in Busia Sub County will be administered the drugs as opposed to the other Sub Counties.

 “In the remaining Sub Counties, we will administer the drugs based on the level of infestation,” he said.

He urged the local residents to maintain cleanliness by embracing hand washing, use of latrines, washing fruits before eating and proper cooking of food.

Busia is one of the Lake Region Counties that was earmarked by the National Government for the exercise.

Courtesy ; K. N. A