Stakeholders in the health sector have called for concerted efforts to enhance the fight against neglected tropical diseases in Homa Bay.
They are worried that the downward spread trajectory of the diseases may reverse should stakeholders fail to work together to address them.
Some of the diseases include Schitonomiasis (Bilharzia), Tungiasis, snake bike and other soil transmitted ailments.
The diseases have cognitive effects on humans and interfere with the mobility of affected people.
According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, bilharzia and jigger menace were still affecting Homa Bay residents.
The survey report indicated that jigger infections and bilharzias were affecting people in Ndhiwa, Rachuonyo and Suba.
Ministry of Health representative Florence Wakesho, Homa Bay director of health Gordon Okomo and Kemri researcher Maurice Odira said Bilharzias disease is rampant in Homa Bay due to its nearness to Lake Victoria.
Wakesho wants residents to maintain personal hygiene to eradicate diseases.
She said her ministry is providing free drugs for treatment and prevention to the residents.
“Intestinal bilharzia is rampant in Homa Bay. We encourage everybody to help the government in eradicating the diseases,” Wakesho said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the dissemination of baseline survey results on neglected tropical diseases meeting in Homa Bay town on Tuesday, Wakesho said the Ministry of Health in partnership with World Health Organization will provide free drugs to the affected people.
She urged the county government to ensure residents have access to clean and safe water.
“The diseases can be successfully fought when we improve our sanitation. Homa Bay government should improve latrines coverage to enhance prevalence mitigation,” she said.
Okomo encouraged parents to take their children for deworming and other drug administering. He said they are working to improve latrine coverage from 42-90 per cent across the county.
“Let people not get tired from washing their hands regularly with soap. The diseases are preventable when personal hygiene is maintained,” Okomo said.
Odira said they conduct research on diseases to enable the government to get a sustainable method of addressing the problems.
“Most governments take ownership of the survey results and prepare to tackle the diseases,” he said.
