Governor Bii Confirms Ten Hepatitis A Cases in Uasin Gishu County, Announces Measures to Curb Spread
Uasin Gishu County is grappling with a Hepatitis A outbreak, with ten confirmed cases and the tragic loss of three children, Governor Jonathan Bii announced yesterday. The affected individuals, aged between 12 and 20, initially received medical care at Ziwa Level Five Hospital in Soy Sub-County before being referred to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) for specialized treatment as their conditions deteriorated.
Governor Bii sought to calm local residents, assuring them that extensive measures have been implemented to contain the disease and prevent further spread. “There should be no cause for alarm at all since our medical teams have taken comprehensive measures to control the situation in the affected areas to prevent further spread of the disease,” he said.
In response to the outbreak, the county government has launched a sensitization program through community health workers to educate residents on the dangers posed by Hepatitis A. “Our officers from the public health department have heightened surveillance within the affected areas to prevent a recurrence of the disease, which has caused fear and anxiety among residents,” Governor Bii noted.
Efforts are also underway to procure testing kits to enhance the detection and treatment of Hepatitis A, with targeted areas already mapped out for mass testing. “Once we procure the kits, the next step is to conduct mass tests in all the affected areas across the county,” Bii explained.
Governor Bii made these remarks during a tour of the newly refurbished Uasin Gishu County Hospital, one of over 150 health facilities that have undergone significant renovations since last year. He assured health workers that their promotion issues, which have been stagnant for over two decades, will be addressed in the next financial year. Additionally, the governor announced plans to hire 150 additional health workers to address staff shortages in various public hospitals.
However, Governor Bii acknowledged the challenges posed by the high number of health professionals leaving the country for better opportunities abroad. “I cannot block them from pursuing greener pastures abroad because, in any case, what we are paying them here is not commensurate with the work they are doing in our public hospitals,” he stated.
The county government’s proactive measures aim to alleviate the current health crisis and reassure the community that steps are being taken to protect their health and well-being.
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