Eateries closed to curb spread of cholera

Homa Bay, Wednesday, December 24, 2023

KNA by Davis Langat

Homa Bay County Government has directed closure of eateries and hawking of food in Sindo town to curb the spread of cholera.

The County Chief Officer of Health Dr. Kevin Osuri said they had issued notices to residents and law enforcement agencies on the new order.

“We have stopped hawking food and eateries within the vicinity of Sindo Township. This is a measure aimed at containing the spread of cholera in the area,” Osuri said.

He added that food handling premises which do not meet the required public health standards across the county are also going to be closed.

“We are not only targeting Sindo but other parts of the county too. All food handling premises must meet the public health standards, failure to which they will be closed,” Osuri said.

The new directive comes amidst a spike in cholera cases in the county in which one person has died and 73 affected.

Cholera cases were first reported at Wadiang’a beach before it spread to other parts of Sindo town in Kasingri West ward, Suba Sub-county.

The disease later spread to Gwassi North Ward where it has affected villages such as Nyagwethe, Kaloki, Nyamosi and Mang’ang’a in the same sub-county.

Dr. Osuri said they have embarked on activities including sensitization of residents on measures to take to avoid contracting the disease.

The anti-cholera preventive measures include sensitizing residents to use treated water, cooking properly and avoiding open defecation among others.

“We are also doing household tracing in the affected areas to ensure residents adhere to preventive measures. We started with Wadiang’a beach which is the epicenter of the disease,” Osuri said.

He said they were collaborating with the National Government administration officers, beach management unit leaders and non-governmental organizations to fight the disease.

The Chief Officer said they had partnered with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) to put up special beds for cholera patients at Suba Sub-county hospital in Sindo town where the patients are admitted.

“Our development partners have also helped us to purchase commodities such as drugs and fluids used by cholera patients,” Osuri said.

He urged residents to be extra cautious with hygiene to curb further spread.

Courtesy ; K. N. A