Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, on Sunday called on residents of Kianyaga, Kirinyaga County to embrace preventive health practices to reduce the risk of waterborne and vector-borne diseases during the rainy season.
Speaking during a community engagement at the newly built ACK Mutitu St. Mark Church in Kianyaga, Muthoni emphasized the importance of regular handwashing, maintaining hygiene, boiling drinking water, and clearing stagnant water to prevent outbreaks of illnesses such as cholera and malaria.
She also encouraged residents to enroll in the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme, noting that the new model has strengthened healthcare delivery through direct payments to hospitals and expanded access to critical services, including intensive care, cancer treatment, and mental health care.
The Principal Secretary acknowledged the vital contribution of Community Health Promoters in advancing preventive care, supporting maternal and child health, promoting early disease screening, and collecting essential data for informed health planning at the grassroots level.
She further urged the youth to steer clear of drug and substance abuse, underscoring its detrimental impact on health and productivity.
The visit is part of the Ministry of Health’s broader efforts to enhance health education and promote resilient community health systems across the country.
Muraya Kamunde
