Off the wire
• China cracks down on stock market manipulation  • Kenyan driver hones skills at Chinese firm, trains compatriots  • South China downpour claims 35 lives  • China sends nutrition packet for rural infants  • Roundup:KSE decreases 0.04 pct to end bearish week  • 'Missing units' of alcohol in British consumption found  • Vertebrates in China facing higher extinction risk  • Across China: Arabic classes give Silk Road a voice  • Vietnam supports AFC decision of life ban on nine Vietnamese footballers  • CPC publicity chief meets overseas Chinese media representatives  
You are here: 　 Home

Kenya says to end cholera in one month

Xinhua, May 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

Medics from Kenya's national and county governments have resolved to end the recent cholera outbreak in the country within the next 30 days.

Over 100 medics held a meeting in the capital Nairobi this week, after which they agreed to intensify surveillance and engage with communities in affected regions.

"It is not acceptable to continue reporting new cases and deaths emanating from cholera. The disease needs to be kicked out of the country as it is causing unnecessary deaths," said Principal Secretary for Health, Khadijah Kassachoon.

Cholera cases have been reported in Kenya's 11 counties, leaving 65 people dead, since the beginning of January.

Kassachoon said 3,234 cases had been reported since the outbreak of cholera in the country. She asked the county health officials to take practical measures to prevent further spread of the disease and urged people to join in public awareness campaigns on the disease.

The United Nations (UN) World Health Organization Kenya Representative, Custodia Mandlhate, said 20,136 cholera cases with 302 deaths had been reported in 14 countries on the continent this year.

"Due to weak health systems and reporting challenges, many countries in Africa go with under-reporting outbreaks of cholera and other diseases," she said.

The cabinet on Thursday directed the health ministry to develop a strategy to control the disease, and urged county governments to introduce measures, enhance health education and finalize the mapping of the affected counties.

Currently, only eight out of 30 counties have plans for sanitation, and only three counties have indicated they have sufficient budget for sanitation for the year 2016. Endi