Ministry moves to boost children immunisation

CS Sicily Kariuki (centre) and Governor Stanley Kiptis at Kabarnet Hospital. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

The Ministry of Health has distributed refrigerators worth Sh41 million for storing vaccines to scale up vaccination of children.  

The ministry has also donated a vehicle and a motorcycle to support the immunisation campaign.

Handing over over the equipment at Kabarnet Hospital on Monday, Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki said at 72 per cent, immunisation coverage of children in the county was below the national target of 80 per cent.

Last year, more than 5,500 children missed out on vaccination, exposing them to diseases such as tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and measles.

"Only 72 per cent of infants in the county had received all their vaccinations by their first birthday last year,” said Ms Kariuki.

The 81 refrigerators have been dispatched to areas that recorded low immunisation such as Baringo North, Tiaty and some parts of Baringo South.

Kariuki linked immunisation challenges in the county to interruptions in service delivery.

She said some facilities in remote villages either do not work or are poorly equipped, making it difficult for mothers to seek immunisation for their children as soon as they are born.

Kariuki also handed over 10,000 mosquito nets to be distributed to women and children in malaria-hit Tirioko ward in Tiaty constituency.

The disease, which has killed at least seven children in the past one month, has been reported in Baringo, Turkana, West Pokot, Marsabit, Uasin Gishu, and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.