Kacheliba, West Pokot – A free medical camp at St. Comboni Kacheliba Girls’ Primary School in Kacheliba Sub County is providing essential healthcare services to the residents of West Pokot. This initiative is a collaboration between the Drug for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDI) and the West Pokot county government, along with other partners.
According to Kenya News Agency, Head of Mycetoma at DNDI, the camp is a response to the widespread medical neglect and prevalence of tropical diseases in the region. Nyaoke highlighted that about 50 percent of patients with neglected diseases still lack access to proper diagnosis and treatment. The focus of the medical camp is to treat general illnesses and book further treatments for those needing specialized care. Emphasizing the importance of early treatment for diseases like mycetoma and kala-azar, Dr. Nyaoke also addressed the need for community awareness on regular medical check-ups.
During the camp, Dr. Nyaoke explained the symptoms and treatment procedures for mycetoma, noting the long-term nature of the treatment. She urged residents, particularly pastoralists and farmers, to wear shoes to prevent infections caused by soil or water-borne bacteria or fungi.
Dr. Njenga Kimani, Medical Superintendent of Kacheliba Sub County Hospital, reported that over the last five years, more than 2500 cases of diseases like mycetoma and kala-azar have been recorded in the area. He called for regular medical tests and control of sandflies, which transmit these diseases. Dr. Kimani noted the similarity of kala-azar symptoms to malaria, leading to misdiagnosis, and outlined plans to introduce more affordable and efficient treatment options.
West Pokot County Executive Committee Member for Health, Claire Parklea, mentioned that they have trained 50 health workers and 100 community health workers to combat these diseases. She listed areas in West Pokot and Baringo where kala-azar is common and highlighted the high percentage of patients from Sigor seeking treatment in Kacheliba.
Charles Gitonga from FIND Organization elaborated on their role in capacity building at hospitals and the distribution of drugs to 11 countries, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). He mentioned the use of Rapid Diagnostic Tests and Direct Agri-tests for disease detection and treatment.
Local resident Moses Korinyang appealed to the County Government to regularly provide drugs for neglected diseases, citing the financial constraints of the majority of the residents. Another resident, Susan Kodereng, shared her daughter’s five-year struggle with mycetomia, underscoring the importance of such medical camps.
The camp, which began on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, offers a range of services including checkups, consultations, diagnosis, treatment for common illnesses, screenings for non-communicable diseases, family planning services, cancer screenings, immunizations, dental check-ups, nutritional counselling, HIV/AIDS testing, and counselling for substance use.
The medical camp will conclude with a 10-kilometre race on Saturday, dubbed “Neglected Patients,” to raise awareness and support for those suffering from neglected diseases.