Parents from Mavoko Sub County have been advised to keep children away from the cold to prevent them from contracting Pneumonia and cold related illnesses.
Addressing the press in Athi River town on Tuesday, Dr. Joyce Mbula of Hifadhi Siha Medical Centre said most of the parents from the region are negligent hence exposing children to such diseases.
Dr. Mbula said the situation had contributed to high child mortality rate in the Sub County and Machakos County at large hence the need for immediate intervention to save the situation.
"Parents’ negligence has led to increased child mortality rates in Mavoko Sub County and Machakos County at large hence need for speedy intervention to avert the situation," said Dr. Mbula.
She noted that it the responsibility of everyone in the society to reduce child mortality rates hence the need for all parents to take up the responsibility of protecting their children from preventable illnesses.
Dr. Mbula called on all the residents from the region to be at the fore front of sensitization against child mortality in spite of their marital status, regardless of whether they have their own biological children or not.
She lauded the First Lady Margaret Kenyatta for her endless commitment towards zero rating child and mother mortality thereby moving this country closer to vision 2030.
The medic said the first lady is a model to all mothers across Africa and the world at large hence the need for all to join in sensitization and public awareness creation around elimination of child and mother mortality.
Dr. Mbula's comments came barely a day after a 3-year-old child from Athi River's Juakali slum succumbed to Pneumonia while being taken to Machakos Level 5 Hospital on Monday morning.