Kenya has been certified guinea worm free by the World Health Organization. Speaking in a ceremony where she received the certificate from the World Health Organization, Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Sicily Kariuki noted that the achievement was as a result of concerted efforts by the Government and its partners.

Kenya/CIA
Kenya/CIA

The CS revealed that Beyond Guinea Worm, Kenya is on the path towards more disease eradication. She said that the country is set to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus this year and congenital syphilis as well as mother to child transmission of HIV by 2021. “Indeed, early signs of this are already emerging with some health facilities reporting zero mother-to-child transmission of HIV over the past year. “She said.

She also said that the country is working towards elimination of Elephantiasis by 2020, trachoma by 2019, cervical cancer, Hepatitis C and Polio. She said the Ministry of Health and its partners will provide antibiotic treatment to approximately 2.8 million people and offer surgeries to about 41,500 citizens affected with trachoma. She revealed that Human Papilloma Virus vaccinations will be introduced in 2019 and that currently the country has safe and efficacious treatment for Hepatitis C.

The CS called on stakeholders to leverage on the political support the health Sector currently enjoy to step up eradication efforts saying disease eradication will be a great contribution towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

She thanked the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, USAID, Kenya Red Cross, CDC, County Governments among others for their support in the Guinea Worm eradication process.“Your invaluable contribution is reassuring to Kenyans that, indeed, through our concerted efforts we can secure Kenya from disease causing agents,” She encouraged.