Turkana County Ramps Up Efforts in Measles Surveillance and Response

TURKANA, KENYA – The Turkana County government, through its Department of Health, has stepped up efforts to monitor the impact of measles outreach programs initiated in late last year.

According to Kenya News Agency, measles is a highly contagious airborne disease caused by a virus, potentially leading to severe health issues and fatalities. The disease first infects the respiratory tract before spreading throughout the body, with symptoms including high fever, cough, runny nose, and a body-wide rash.

Dr. Francis Iris Mariao, County Executive for Health and Sanitation, led a team comprising Sub-County Health Management officers and representatives from UNICEF Kenya to evaluate the measles outreach emergency response in Letea Ward, Turkana West Sub-county. This response, which commenced in mid-November 2023, was initially launched in the village of Lokipoto following a reported spike in measles cases. A similar response was conducted earlier in the year in Nalapatui, Kalobeyei Ward.

While the response in Nalapatui emphasized home-based care and follow-ups, the approach in Lokipoto involved establishing a Case Management Center at the local dispensary. This initiative was supported by partners including USAID NAWIRI, USAID Imarisha Jamii, Welthungerhilfe, and the International Rescue Committee Core Group Partners’ Project. The center’s efforts, alongside community health promoters, have reportedly slowed the disease’s spread through intensified household-level case finding.

During a briefing with dispensary staff and community leaders, Dr. Mariao commended the collaborative work of the staff, case management team, local community, and various partners in managing the emergency response. “The strategy for ending the outbreak will be formulated in an upcoming meeting with the senior health management team and partners,” he stated.

Dr. Mariao was joined by Dr. Nelson Lolos and Rose Kendagun from UNICEF Kenya’s Lodwar Zonal Office, Joel Lochor (Sub-county Medical Officer of Health), and John Ateyo (Sub-county Public Health Nurse). Concurrently, another team led by Dr. David Moru, Acting Director for Health Products and Technologies, undertook a similar assessment at the Kakuma Sub-County Hospital and nearby dispensaries.

At the hospital, the team interviewed caregivers of measles patients to identify their home villages and migration patterns. This effort is crucial as the highly mobile pastoralist communities in the sub-county are at risk of missing immunization opportunities. The team also emphasized the importance of immunization to the women, urging them to take any child with a rash to the nearest health facility for assessment and treatment.