Child washing hands [Photo/Plive.co.ke]
Recent reports by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have indicated approximately 229 cases of cholera in Garissa, Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Kilifi and Vihiga counties between August 27 and September 9 with 198 of the cases coming from Nairobi.
Murang’a, Mombasa, Turkana, Kericho, Nakuru, Kiambu and Narok were victims of the second wave of cholera but have managed to recover according to a report released in September 15.
As of 2017, 2,807 cases of cholera have been reported in the country and 50 deaths have been reported.
According to UNICEF, around 3.5 million Kenyans do not have access to clean drinking water. They also placed the number of children facing food insecurity in the country at 1.6 million and a total of 3.4 million of the adult population facing the same. “From January 2017, a total of 50,547 children (64pc of annual target) and 94,851 children (48pc of annual target) have been admitted for the treatment of severe and moderate acute malnutrition respectively,” the report highlights. “The Kenya 2017 HAC appeal has a funding gap of 39pc and without additional funding, UNICEF will be unable to optimally support the drought emergency response, and mitigate the risks of a worsening situation for children.”