Ministry of Health's guidelines on safety during heavy rains

By Peter Ochieng

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has issued guidelines on staying safe, during the ongoing rainy season.

Heavy downpour is being experienced in most parts of the country, with the meteorological department predicting that the rains will continue for the entire weekend, until Monday when a draw back with be witnessed.

For instance in Kisumu, rain started at around 10pm and continued throughout Friday night.

"Flood waters may appear in places where it has not rained heavily especially downstream. Residents are advised to avoid driving through, or walking in moving water or open fields and not to shelter under trees and near grilled windows when raining to minimize exposure to lightning strikes,” read an alert from the department.

In a directive on Saturday, the Susan Nakhumicha led MOH urged Kenyans to observe various measures aimed at keeping safe.

They include staying indoors during heavy rains, ensuring proper ventilation to reduce respiratory risks, boiling or treating water before use and using latrines to prevent water and food contamination.

Others are clearjng drainage around residential areas and reporting emergencies to local authorities.

The ministry states that there is a likelihood of increased respiratory diseases due to extreme cold weather, outbreak of water-related diseases like typhoid fever, cholera and diarrhea due to flooding and contamination, increased landslides in hilly areas, leading to property damage, outbreaks of mosquito-related diseases, the likes of Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya and Rift Valley fever.

"Swollen rivers may lead to drowning and damage to homes and farmlands. After a flood, your water source may be compromised – use safe water only," MOH advised.

Heavy rains have swept away homes and livestock, and destroyed roads and electric transmission lines in various parts of the country.

At least two people have died in Mombasa and Meru, and at least one reported missing due to the heavy rains, which were scalled down from El-Nino.