Turkana county has attained open defaecation-free status in four wards.
Health executive Jane Ajele said they have attained the status from four wards in Turkana West and the entire Kalobeyei Settlement through an accelerated collaboration between health officials, supporting partners and community members.
Ajele said the impact achieved from the partnership has led to remarkable diseases reduction evidenced by health facility reports over the past year.
“This water, sanitation and hygiene project, a partnership of Turkana county government and Peace Winds Japan funded by Unicef began in 2019 by targeting villages in host communities and refugees,” she said.
The executive said the 229 villages are in Kakuma refugee camp, Kalobeyei, Kakuma, Lopur and Letea wards, as well as Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement.
Ajele said the achievement has greatly reduced the outbreak of sanitation and hygiene-related diseases such diarrhoea and cholera among the host communities.
“Turkana county has achieved ODF status in 583 of 2,249 villages with Turkana West contributing to 36 per cent (209 certified of 229 declared villages), an improvement of latrine coverage from 31-77 per cent”.
“The County is saving an annual Sh285 million as a result of the ODF (583) villages compared to an annual loss of Sh1.1 billion when no village was ODF by 2015. Turkana West contributes to saving of Sh102.2 million following the attainment of 209 ODF villages,” Ajele said.
She said that in Turkana West, the contribution by wards of the total 638 villages is as follows: Kakuma-59 (26 per cent), Kalobeyei-107 (66.5 per cent), Letea-8 (18 per cent), Lokichogio-4 (14.3 per cent), Lopur-17 (52 per cent, Nakalale-7 (12 per cent), Nanaam-1 (three per cent) and Songot (13 per cent).
She said the achievements have resulted in a decline in diarrheal diseases by 45 per cent in the last three quarters. This has been attributed to a consistent collaboration, partnership and engagement with residents on water, sanitation and hygiene activities.
She recognised the Kalobeyei Settlement with a population of over 40,000 people whose 105 villages have attained 100 per cent open defaecation-free status through the support of Peace Winds Japan.
Turkana West MP Daniel Epuyo appreciated and congratulated the community for supporting the initiative.
Edited by EKibii
