Cholera claims more than 10 lives in Isiolo

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By Ali Abdi

In recent weeks, more than 10 people have died in Kipsing location of Isiolo District from cholera, attributed by health workers to lack of water and clean food.

Residents have been drinking water from shallow wells they share with animals.

Others who have died are from Livestock Marketing Division (LMD) area on the outskirts of Isiolo town, Eremet and Daaba in Central and East divisions.

More than 1,000 were infected.

Isiolo Drought Management Officer Patrick Kimeu said Arid Lands Resource Management Project (ALRMP) had started ferrying water to residents in Badana, Korbesa, Malkagalla, Duse and some primary schools.

He said the outbreak was related to drought, as the affected residents did not have access to clean water.

Shallow wells

"Their source of water is shallow wells that are contaminated,’’ he said.

Kipsing Councillor Peter Lerkurtut and Isiolo ALRMP Drought Officer Lordman Lekalkule said 47 people are under medication, including a local chief. According to a ALRMP’s bulletin seen by The Standard, lack of milk had led to severe malnutrition cases among children and breastfeeding mothers in Oldonyiro, Merti and Sericho.

In these two divisions, malnutrition among children is at 33 and 35 per cent respectively.

In Merti, children had also been hit by kalazar (black fever), where more than 10 cases had been reported last month.

‘’Children in Merti are still affected by kalazar, while health facilities remain without necessary drugs to treat the disease,’’ the report says in part.