Health official in Turkana county have raised alarm over the rising cases of Kala-azar, a fatal parasitic disease transmitted by infected sand flies.
Health executive Joseph Epem expressed fears the
diseases caused by leishmania parasite that affects the bone marrow,
lymph nodes, liver and spleen was becoming a common occurrence in local
hospital.
He told officials from the directorates of medical services, preventive and promotive health that the disease whose symptoms included fever, weight loss and enlargement of the spleen and liver remained a pressing challenge in the county.
Epem said healthcare workers have been battling rising cases since the first three cases were reported in June 2024, after which the numbers soared to 94 in December 2024 and 125 by March 2025, with figures continuing to rise.
He emphasised the importance of early identification and management of cases at the community level, backed by strong interventions, intensified public awareness and behavioural change to improve health-seeking practices.
“Health programmes are meant to advance health priorities and ensure access and delivery of healthcare as the primary goal,” he said.
The forum also deliberated on strategies to address key health priorities including mitigating the Kala-azar outbreak, accelerating Social Health Authority (SHA) registration and implementing the Facility Improvement Fund (FIF).
On SHA registration, Epem noted the department’s efforts to expand outreach in markets, schools and hospitals, while also encouraging the use of waiting cards to boost enrolment.
“We will be targeting schools during registration exercises and we urge parents to register themselves and their eligible children. The same applies to college and university students,” he said.
To strengthen digital health systems, Epem revealed plans to provide 450 digital devices to health facilities.
These will improve the surveillance of health products and
technologies, strengthen records management and increase accountability in service
delivery.
The executive also directed the development of public awareness campaigns to encourage access to affordable phone and ID registration as part of efforts to increase SHA coverage.
Medical Services chief officer Gilchrist Lokoel highlighted plans to expand service coverage across all subcounties through equitable distribution of essential health commodities to ensure availability and accessibility.
Preventive and promotive health chief officer Janerose Tioko pointed out gaps in revenue collection at health facilities.
She underscored the importance of proper financial management tools, such as cashbooks.
Lokoel also announced plans to deploy account clerks at subcounty levels to streamline facility finances.
The meeting also reviewed Turkana’s health indicators: Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) at 21 per cent, prevention of mother-to-child transmission coverage at 86.3 per cent, WASH facilities coverage at 58.6 per cent, placenta disposal pits deficits at 21 per cent of facilities and gazetted health facilities at 174 per cent, with more awaiting gazettement.
Other issues discussed included tackling stockouts, strengthening partnerships, mobilising resources, integrated supervision, revising the organogram and enhancing accountability and service delivery.
