For cholera, prevention always better than cure

Last week, a cholera outbreak was reported in Homa Bay and Migori Counties where at least nine people have been reported dead while over 80 have been hospitalised with acute diarrhoea.

In total, the reported cases of cholera are 166, but many more people could be infected.

Without proper measures in place, there is danger of the outbreak spreading out to nearby Kisii and Kisumu Counties.

Kisii county health officials have reacted by banning roadside food hawking and feasting at funerals.

As a temporal measure, this could halt the spread of the infectious disease but emphasis must be laid on proper sanitation and hygiene. Like all waterborne diseases, prevention is always better than the cure.

The Public Health Society of Kenya has expressed its concerns at the spread and the inability of the counties affected to tame the spread, terming it shameful that at this stage, cholera should be ravaging populations.

If cholera broke out at a refugee camp where there is congestion and a lack of basic facilities like toilets and water, it can be understood, but not in Counties that have budgets which can be put into good use to ensure diseases like cholera do not disrupt social and economic activities.

This shifts focus to county government's ability and commitment to providing safe drinking water and keeping the environment clean.

Often, a visit to many of the urban centres would reveal heaps of uncollected garbage where flies buzz, open sewers and a shortage of piped water.

The shortage of public toilets in many towns leads people to relieve themselves in the bushes, which aids in the spread of the disease.

Hawking of food in towns and centres of Migori and Homa Bay Counties is a common occurrence yet one cannot miss the fact that most of the areas experience water shortages.

Across the country, many of the food hawkers and small food kiosks operators are not licensed and do not meet the health requirements and standards to sell prepared food.

By cracking on them and ensuring a steady supply of clean water and regular garbage collection, it is possible to tame cholera.