• The health executive said the ban is effective immediately and will stay for the next two weeks.
• “Public health officers have been instructed to go to the ground and ensure that any person caught selling food from this minute onwards is brought to book,” Yumbya said.
Image: GEORGE OWITI
The Machakos government on Thursday banned food hawking and ordered the closure of food kiosks following a cholera outbreak.
Health executive Daniel Yumbya said they reached the decision after eleven cholera cases were confirmed in the county.
“Currently, we have eight cases and one patient is in critical condition,” Yumbya said.
The health executive addressed the press at the Machakos Level 5 Hospital.
The officials established that out of the eleven, one, an inmate at Machakos G.K prison died at Machakos Level 5 Hospital, while two others were discharged in stable condition.
He said the cases were first reported at Machakos G.K prison and Machakos School for the deaf.
“I hereby wish to invoke Public Health Act and ban food hawking and outlets in Machakos county,” Yumbya said.
The health executive who took his oath of office alongside his counterparts on Wednesday said the ban is effective immediately and will stay for the next two weeks.
“We shall review the process after two weeks because prevention is better than cure,” he said.
Yumbya said public health officers have been instructed to go to the ground and ensure that any person caught selling food is brought to book.
“Members of the public who get their income from hawking food, it’s unfortunate that we have to make this decision as a temporary measure, not permanent,” he said.
“Members of the public are also advised to wash their hands, adhere to hygiene practices and ensure that they take cooked food instead of foods like salads, which they aren’t sure of.”
Yumbya also told the public to only eat from hotels, which have maintained required hygienic standards.
He said a team of health professionals from both county and national government will inspect hotels across the county and those found operating in unhygienic conditions will be closed down.
The executive said he will be involved in the operations.
He said they have sent their officers to both Machakos GK Prison and Machakos School for the deaf and are working with the institutions’ management to ensure the situation is resolved.
“Cholera is contagious, therefore, maybe a prisoner was moved from one prison. Remember, the national government reported sometime back the outbreak in the country. And since Kenyans move freely, this is a disease that can also move with people,” Yumbya said.
The executive said the county administration has distributed adequate supplies to all subcounty Level 4 and 3 hospitals across the country.
"All new cases should be handled there, only critical cases should be referred to Machakos Level 5 Hospital," he said.
Yumbwa said there were no more cases reported in schools and other educational institutions in the county.
He said they have also formed a rapid response team available at both subcounty and county levels.
The team, he says, is implementing enhanced surveillance for laboratory testing, case management and public awareness through community engagement.
He assured the public that they are doing everything possible to contain further spread of the disease.
“We have identified food and water suppliers and taken samples from various subcounties where cholera has been reported. We urge the public to ensure they adhere to stringent hygiene practices at all levels,” Yumbya said.
The inmate at Machakos GK prison who died of suspected cholera on Sunday succumbed on arrival at Machakos Level 5 Hospital.