NAIROBI, Kenya, July 19, 2017 – The Government has closed Jacaranda and San Valencia hotels in relation to the cholera outbreak in Nairobi County.
The two had been notified by Nairobi County officials to ensure proper hygiene in food preparation but failed comply to the directive.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr. Cleopa Mailu made the announcement on Wednesday after visiting KNH where over 100 patients have been treated with cholera symptoms.
The CS said the Government has set up eight treatment centres in conjunction with the Kenya Red Cross to take care of those infected by cholera. Currently the Government is providing soap, water treatment chemicals, laboratory supplies, Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials to ensure proper hygiene in affected areas especially slums.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mailu has instructed hotels to engage the department of public health in the Ministry of Health to ensure proper procedures in food handling for maximum safety.
“We are also advising hotels to only book visitors they can properly care for to avoid sourcing food from outside, ” said the CS at the Jukwaa La KTN on Wednesday.
Dr. Mailu urged the Nairobi County government to ensure proper drainage to prevent open sewers from leaking into water sources.
“We are also advising citizens to observe proper hygiene in their homes while the county government should ensure proper garbage disposal in the city, ” emphasized the CS.
The country has been having a Cholera outbreak since early May 2017, with the first two cases having been reported in Mathare area, Nairobi. Cumulatively, a total of 381 cases including 4 deaths (Case Fatality Rate = 1%) have been reported in Nairobi County.
Out of the 12 counties that have reported Cholera cases in 2017, only two have active outbreak of Cholera, Nairobi & Garissa.
In Nairobi County, there are currently 67 admissions across various health facilities. The identified hotspots in the county are Mukuru kwa Ruben, Mukuru kwa Njenga, Mathare, Kibra, Kawangware and Outer Ring Road
The Government has responded promptly by reactivating the Cholera Response Taskforce and implementing the Cholera Response Plan within 21 days.
Rapid Response Teams have also been sent to conduct investigations in the affected counties and affected counties have been advised to follow cholera management guidelines, including setting up of 6 cholera treatment centers.
The Government has also heightened surveillance for acute watery diarrhea, by conducting active case search and contact tracing and inspection of public eateries and enforcement of the public law.
Clean portable water is also being supplied to the identified hotspots with involvement of Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company and Ministry of Water.
Community sensitization on prevention and control of cholera such as treating/boiling of water before consumption, use of latrines for safe disposal of fecal matter and early treatment for any signs of diarrhea is ongoing including Social mobilization and health awareness creation in communities.