By Issa Hussein - Reporter
June 18, 2026 - The Turkana County Government, in partnership with the International Rescue Committee's Core Group Partners Project (IRC CGPP), has launched an eight-day joint support supervision exercise across 10 cross-border health facilities in Lokiriama and Turkana West sub-counties to strengthen disease surveillance and public awareness.
The exercise targets health facilities and surrounding communities along the Kenya-Uganda border, with a focus on assessing preparedness for zoonotic diseases and improving early detection and reporting systems.
The multi-agency team comprises sub-county medical officers of health, public health nurses, disease surveillance officers, health records and information officers, and veterinary officers.
During the exercise, the team is evaluating the capacity of Community Health Promoters and Community Disease Reporters to identify and refer suspected cases, reviewing disease surveillance data, assessing reporting trends and conducting rapid household surveys.
County Disease Surveillance Coordinator Absolom Kuya said the supervision focuses on key areas including disease surveillance, immunisation, human resources and community mobilisation, with support from the County Health Management Team.
"The exercise is intended to identify gaps in service delivery and strengthen preparedness at both facility and community levels," he said.
Veterinary officers used the visits to sensitise residents on zoonotic diseases, including rabies and anthrax, which pose risks to both human and animal health.
Speaking on behalf of the Director of Veterinary Services, Dr John Sang urged communities to remain vigilant and report suspected cases promptly.
"It is important for communities to understand all zoonotic diseases, even those that are considered rare, so they can identify symptoms early and seek assistance before the situation escalates," he said.
Dr Sang cautioned residents against ignoring dog bites, noting that rabies can remain dormant for months before symptoms appear.
"In the event of a dog bite, the wound should be washed immediately with running water and soap before the patient is taken to a health facility. Once rabies symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal," he said.
IRC CGPP Project Manager Abdi Jamal said the supervision exercise forms part of routine quarterly visits aimed at improving disease awareness and strengthening surveillance in border communities.
He noted that previous exercises were conducted in Lokichoggio, Turkana West and Kibish sub-counties in December 2025 and March 2026.
"We carry out these routine supervisions to ensure communities understand disease identification and reporting procedures so that potentially deadly diseases do not go undetected and untreated," he said.
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Jamal also encouraged residents to include dogs in livestock vaccination campaigns, assuring them that vaccines are available.
Community members welcomed the awareness campaign, saying it had improved their understanding of zoonotic diseases and response measures.
Margaret Lotot, a traditional birth attendant, said residents had witnessed unusual animal behaviour that underscored the need for greater awareness.
"I understand how dangerous anthrax is. Even handling infected meat or blood can have serious consequences," she said.
Mercy Maraka, a mother of two from Lorengipi, said regular visits by community mobilisers had helped residents recognise disease symptoms and understand when to seek medical attention.
"Learning about these diseases helps me know how to protect my family and what action to take before getting to a hospital," she said.
Health workers also highlighted challenges affecting service delivery in remote border areas.
Lokiriama Medical Officer of Health Richard Lowoto said the lack of adequate cold-chain infrastructure continues to affect immunisation coverage.
"If we receive support for cold-chain equipment, it would significantly improve vaccine storage and immunisation services in this area," he said.
Community Health Assistant Jully Lopemlo said the joint supervision visits provide an opportunity for frontline health workers to improve data management, identify weaknesses and raise operational challenges with county health officials.
The exercise also includes public sensitisation on Ebola Virus Disease following reported outbreaks in parts of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with health officials keen to strengthen preparedness in communities located along major cross-border movement routes.