Fifty Community Health Promoters (CHPs) from Limuru Central Ward have received Mpox sensitization training from the Kiambu County Department of Health Services.
The training specifically targeted the group in regards to their work in an area that covers the busy Mutarakwa–Mai Mahiu highway.
Addressing the area’s high-risk profile as a truck stopover, the team also provided Mpox awareness training to employees at local bars, restaurants, and lodges near the Mutarakwa junction.
The training focused on recognizing Mpox symptoms, understanding how it spreads, and learning prevention methods.
The workshop focused on several key areas of Mpox management, including epidemiology and awareness, which covered identifying transmission pathways and clinical features.
It also addressed rapid response protocols for implementing isolation, containment, and clinical management strategies.
Other topics included strengthening surveillance systems and improving communication channels for detection and reporting, as well as emphasizing strict hygiene, correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and respiratory etiquette for prevention and control.
Finally, the session covered the importance of community engagement and educating the public on behavioural changes to reduce transmission.
During the session, Chief Officer of Health Dr. Patrick Nyaga explained that the goal was to improve readiness, surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and community engagement through integrated training.
“We are building capacity not just for immediate response but also for cascading this knowledge to other health workers,” he stated.
He added that by empowering the health workforce and engaging communities, they stood a better chance of interrupting transmission chains and preventing further loss of life.
This follows a recent statement from the Ministry of Health on the Mpox outbreak in Kenya where Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed four new cases in the last 72 hours.
Three of the new cases were located in Mombasa County, with the fourth case confirmed in Nairobi County. He also confirmed a total of 314 cases since the outbreak began in July 2024.
Mpox is a viral disease that spreads through close contact with an infected person. Key symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, extreme fatigue, and a rash that progresses from bumps to sores. The virus can be transmitted through direct contact with infected skin or scabs, bodily fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated items like clothing or bedding. It can also be passed from a mother to her child. Additionally, handling infected animals or their meat could also lead to transmission.
People are advised to prevent Mpox by avoiding skin-to-skin contact with anyone who has a rash, washing their hands frequently, and seeking medical attention if they develop any symptoms.
The Ministry of Health is collaborating with county governments and other partners to increase surveillance across all counties by deploying Rapid Response Teams to strengthen the capacity of healthcare workers.
The teams are also actively searching for new cases, tracing contacts, investigating, and managing confirmed cases, including provision of mental health and psychosocial support to those infected or affected by the disease.
By Hellen Lunalo
