The Ministry of Health is strengthening collaboration with the County Government of Laikipia to address the escalating socio-economic challenge of drug and substance abuse, which continues to affect young people, families, and communities, Principal Secretary for Public Health Mary Muthoni has said.
Ms. Muthoni noted with concern that drug and substance abuse was particularly pronounced in Laikipia County, where approximately 37.1 percent of youth have experimented with drugs and 22.4 percent are regular users. In a speech read on her behalf by Senior Deputy Secretary in the State Department for Public Health, Mawira Muungania, during the launch of the 11th Epuka Uchafu Afya Nyumbani (EUAN) program in Nanyuki town on Wednesday, the PS highlighted that in Nyahururu Sub-County, drug abuse has increasingly become a root cause of student unrest, violence, destruction of school property, and incidents of arson and strikes.
PS Muthoni stated that the ministry, in collaboration with the county government and other stakeholders, is committed to enhancing efforts to curb drug and substance abuse in the region. She urged the county government, community leaders, faith-based organisations, and citizens to support and actively participate in the Epuka Uchafu and Afya Nyumbani initiatives, integrating them with drug awareness campaigns to strengthen prevention and rehabilitation efforts.
“By focusing on both a clean environment and strong social well-being, we can dismantle the systemic barriers that perpetuate disease and addiction,” she noted in the speech.
Laikipia Deputy Governor Reuben Kamuri, who graced the event alongside County Executive Committee Member for Health Wagura Taiti, observed that solid waste management in major urban centers across the county remains a significant challenge. He pledged that the county will intensify community engagement to promote responsible waste disposal practices.
“Let us embrace a culture of proper disposal of waste generated at home. We cannot continue throwing trash on roadsides and within our compounds,” Taiti said.
The CECM added that the county, through the Department of Public Health, will initiate monthly cleanup exercises in major urban centers to improve sanitation and enhance community participation in environmental management.
The Epuka Uchafu, Afya Nyumbani campaign is a national initiative by the Ministry of Health aimed at improving community health through proper sanitation, hygiene practices, and environmental stewardship. It is anchored on the belief that a clean environment is essential to public health and seeks to empower communities with knowledge, motivation, skills, and tools to maintain clean and health-enhancing surroundings.
Since its inception, the initiative has been rolled out in numerous counties across the country, including West Pokot, Turkana, Migori, Kisii, Machakos, Narok, Murang’a, Tharaka Nithi, Kisumu, and Nakuru, with Laikipia now joining the growing list of participating counties.
by Martin Munyi
