Waterborne Diseases on The Rise in Embu

Embu,

Friday, December 1, 2023

KNA by Samuel Waititu

The ongoing heavy rains across the country have led to an increase in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) related diseases such as amoebiasis and diarrhea in Embu County.

The hardest hit areas by the burden of the WASH related diseases and conditions are Runyenjes Sub-county which is closely followed by Mbeere North according to CEC Health Francis Ndwiga.

Speaking on Thursday during a review meeting of the performance progress of the department for second quarter of the current financial year, Ndwiga said 4, 635 cases of amoebiasis and 4, 192 cases of intestinal worms were reported in Runyenjes amongst the population of ages of five years and above.

He said that Mbeere North had recorded 2, 584 and 2, 387 cases of amoebiasis and intestinal worms respectively among the same population. 

The CEC reported that the data was a clear indication that communities were using contaminated water or failing to maintain good hygiene practices.

He cautioned that the diseases were likely to escalate further with the ongoing rains that have left many sanitary facilities like pit latrines submerged or collapsed.

In mitigation, the department agreed to accelerate preventive measures and to continue addressing social behavior changes amongst the communities in order to reverse the negative trend.

“Once communities embrace health as a personal responsibility, the county will reduce hospital visits by over 70 percent hence saving the cost of health care,” Ndwiga said.

The meeting brought together 89 Public Health Officers and 56 Community Health Assistants.

Courtesy; KNA