Written By Vanessa Kariuki ||
Following a cholera outbreak, the Naivasha department of public health has outlawed food hawking throughout the town and its surroundings.
Margret Mungai, the Naivasha Sub County Public Health Officer, told the reporters in the town of Naivasha that open cooking and fish peddling were also prohibited there and along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
“Whoever will be found disobeying this order will be arrested and prosecuted,” Mungai said.
Following the confirmation of four cholera cases in the Viwandani region of Naivasha town, the Nakuru County Public Health Director last Thursday issued a cholera alert for the county. The four family members are thought to have contracted the illness while at a wedding in Kiambu County last month.
A multi-sectoral body called the Cholera Multi-Sectoral Committee, which is led by the Sub County Deputy Commissioner, is conducting surveillance to stop the spread of the disease, according to the public health officer.
To prevent any further cholera outbreaks, surveillance has also been increased along the border with neighboring counties like Kiambu.
Mungai also issued a warning that anyone spotted defecating in bushes along the Nairobi-Nakuru route while on a bus headed towards Western Kenya will be jailed since doing so can easily contribute to the spread of cholera. Human waste exhausters in the community were ordered to dump their cargo at the wastewater treatment facility or face legal repercussions.
Naivasha residents have been urged to practice high standards of cleanliness by washing their hands after using the restroom, before preparing and eating meals, and before boiling water for drinking.
Following the confirmation of 61 cases across six counties, the Ministry of Health issued an alert about a cholera outbreak last month. Six counties Kiambu, Nairobi, Murang’a, Kajiado, Nakuru, and Uasin Gishuwere identified as having the outbreak.
