Machakos: Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has issued a directive to Public Health Officers across the country to intensify inspections of kiosks, food vendors, and other businesses, mandating the closure of those found non-compliant with health regulations. This move is part of a broader effort to enhance hygiene and prevent the spread of disease.
According to Kenya News Agency, Muthoni’s announcement came during her speech at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) in the Manza campus, Machakos, as part of the Global Handwashing Day celebrations. The theme of the event was “Why are clean hands still important?” emphasizing the critical role of personal hygiene in disease prevention.
Muthoni underscored the ongoing challenge of maintaining high hygiene standards, particularly in food handling and waste management. She revealed that Kenya deals with over 22,000 metric tonnes of dirt, stressing the need for stringent waste disposal practices among food vendors and businesses. The Principal Secretary highli
ghted the significant impact of handwashing on reducing the transmission of diseases such as cholera, which remains a threat alongside other preventable diseases like malaria.
Furthermore, Muthoni stressed the importance of proper hand hygiene among children, both in schools and at home, noting that effective handwashing practices can cut the risk of infections by up to 50%. She applauded the efforts of Community Health workers in Machakos for their grassroots education campaigns on hygiene and their role in providing first aid and referring serious cases to local hospitals.