by JOHN MUCHANGI
Friday April 12, 2024

Kenya is expected to benefit from a global programme that will see millions of cholera test kits distributed around the world.

Shipments of the first kits, about 1.2 million, were distributed this week in 14 high risk countries.

The donor, Gavi, said countries that will receive kits in the coming weeks include those currently severely impacted by cholera outbreaks.

The list excludes Kenya, which has expressed interest for the kits, but is currently not facing an outbreak.

Gavi said countries that expressed interest but were not included in the first shipments will receive the kits in the future.

This programme, the largest such effort in the world, will improve the timeliness and accuracy of outbreak detection and response by boosting routine surveillance and testing capacity and helping rapidly identify probable cholera cases.

“Critically, it will also help countries monitor trends and build an evidence base for future preventive programmes, supporting the achievement of national cholera control and elimination targets,” Gavi said.

Kenya last reported cholera outbreak last year.

In August last year, Medical epidemiologist at the Ministry of Health Emmanuel Okunga said 11,897 cases were reported in 26 counties since the outbreak began in October 2022. It claimed 194 lives.

“Timely detection of cholera cases and prompt initiation of treatment is key in reducing morbidity, mortality and containing transmission,” Okunga said.

The ongoing global cholera diagnostics programme is funded and coordinated by Gavi while procurement and delivery to countries is led by Unicef in collaboration with the Global Task Force on Cholera Control and World Health Organization.

“These initial shipments signal the start of the programme, which aims to see partners deploy RDTs to additional countries that have expressed interest in the future. Long-term sustainability of the programme depends on successful fundraising for Gavi’s next strategic period, from 2026 to 2030,” Gavi said.

The 14 initial countries are Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Syria, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Cholera has been surging globally since 2021, with high case fatality rates despite availability of simple, effective and affordable treatment.

The large number of outbreaks has led to unprecedented demand for vaccines from impacted countries.

Kenya started Cholera vaccinations in February last year and by August, the Ministry of Health said it had surpassed its target of vaccinating 1.59 million people in eight high-risk counties.

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that spreads through food and water contaminated with faeces containing the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The rise in cholera is driven by continued gaps in access to safe water and sanitation and failure to quickly detect outbreaks and limit their spread.

While global oral cholera vaccine supply has increased eighteen-fold between 2013 and 2023, the large and sustained spike in demand compared to the current availability has put a strain on the global stockpile.

“Preventive vaccination campaigns have had to be delayed to preserve doses for emergency outbreak response efforts,” Gavi said.

“Recurring outbreaks in countries where emergency vaccination campaigns have already been implemented further highlight the need for improved speed and accuracy in identifying areas with new or persistent transmission – enabling these areas to be targeted during initial outbreak response efforts.”

In February, Migori county confirmed a cholera outbreak after an infected mourner crossed over from Tanzania and fell sick in Kenya.

County health services executive Awuor Nyerere said they are on high alert and they have put in place community health volunteers, ward admins, village elders, chiefs and their assistants to help in report cases and trace contacts.

Friday 12 April , 2024 {HMC} In a bold move, Ethiopian consulates in Garowe and Hargeisa defy Somalia’s directive to shut down, highlighting the escalating tensions between the two neighboring nations. Despite Somalia’s order to close the consulates, Ethiopia maintains their operations, sparking a diplomatic standoff.

The closure order issued by Somalia comes amidst strained relations between the two countries, exacerbated by territorial disputes and political disagreements. Ethiopia’s refusal to comply with the closure order underscores its firm stance on maintaining a presence in these regions.

The decision to keep the consulates open signifies Ethiopia’s strategic interests in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Somalia’s semi-autonomous regions of Puntland (where Garowe is located) and Somaliland (where Hargeisa is situated). These regions hold significant geopolitical importance for Ethiopia, serving as trade routes and offering strategic access to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Ethiopia’s defiance of Somalia’s directive is likely to further escalate tensions and could potentially lead to diplomatic repercussions between the two nations. The international community closely watches this development, concerned about the implications for regional stability in the Horn of Africa.

Baidoa, 12 April 2024 {HMC} – The South West State administration has commended the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) troops for ensuring the safety and security of civilians during the just concluded holy month of Ramadan.

At a joint post-Ramadan security assessment meeting in Baidoa, South West State Minister for Internal Security, Hassan Mohamed Abdiqadir, applauded the ATMIS Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) troops for facilitating the peaceful observance of Ramadan in the region.

ATMIS Sector Three Commander, Maj Gen Besfat Fente Tegegn, and senior ATMIS military and South West State administration and security officials, attended the meeting at the Sector Three Headquarters.

“We extend our sincere gratitude to ATMIS ENDF troops for their outstanding efforts in securing the region in collaboration with our regional security teams. They effectively conducted operations and patrols to counter the threat of Al-Shabaab insurgents and ensured the safety of the local community,” said Minister Hassan, commending the troops for their unwavering dedication to peace and stability in the region.

The meeting, part of the regular joint engagements between ATMIS and key security partners in the region, evaluated the implementation of security integration, cooperation, and coordination efforts during the month-long Ramadan period and Eid-al-Fitr celebrations.

“We pledged to enhance security in the region before Ramadan, and we are here to assess the outcomes and challenges. We can proudly say that we have successfully achieved that feat, thanks to the close coordination between ATMIS and South West State security organs,” said Brig Gen Besfat Fente Tegegn, the ATMIS Sector Three Commander.

He highlighted the significance of the close collaboration between ATMIS, the South West State administration, and the local community in achieving the Mission’s objectives.

The ATMIS ENDF troops and the South West regional troops – Darawish, were deployed to bolster security on the outskirts of Baidoa and Forward Operating Bases (FOBs). The police and intelligence agencies operated within the city, effectively countering Al-Shabaab menaces.

“We have had a very successful Ramadan period due to the concerted efforts of ATMIS, SNA, NISA, South West Darawish, and police personnel. We sincerely commend ATMIS troops for maintaining security in Baidoa and the entire region,” said Abdullahi Ali Watin, Baidoa District Mayor.

Under the African Union peace support operation, Ethiopian National Defence Forces troops are responsible for Gedo, Bay and Bakool regions of South West State in Somalia.

jimca 12, April ,2024 {HMC}  Waqtigii ay dowladda federaalka Soomaaliya u qabatay in lagu xiro qunsuliyadaha Itoobiya ay ku leedahay magaalooyinka Garowe (Puntland) iyo Hargeysa (Somaliland) ayaa ku ekaa khamiistii shalay.

Sida aan xogta ku helayno, labada qunsuliyadood ayaa si caadi u shaqeynaya haatan, mana jiraan wax saamayn ah oo ku yeeshay go’aankii kasoo baxay xukuumadda fedeaalka Soomaaliya.

Maamulada Somaliland iyo Puntland ayaa horey u diiday go’aanka Muqdisho kasoo yeeray, iyagoo sheegay in go’aannada dowladda federaalka aanu ka shaqaynayn degaanadooda.

Labada maamul ayaa mid walba gaarkiisa u sheegay inay Itoobiya laleeyihiin xiriiro saaxiibtinimo iyo mid ganacsi.

Dowladda Soomaaliya ayaa ku eedeysay dowladda Itoobiya inay xad gudub qaawan ku hayso arrimaha gudaha Soomaaliya.

Go’aankii todobaadkii hore kasoo baxay golaha wasiirrada Soomaaliya ayay dowladdu sheegtay haddii uu dhaqan gali waayo inay qaadayso tallaabo kaste oo ay ku ilaalinayso madax banaanideeda dhuleed.

Warar aanu kasoo xiganay ilo diblumaasiyadeed waxay sheegayaan in dowladda Soomaaliya ay diyaarinayso dacwad ay u gudbinayso Qaramada Midoobay, taasoo ah eedayn ka dhan ah faragalinta Ethiopia.