Wajir County is making notable progress in combating the Kala-azar outbreak, with recoveries now outpacing new infections, Governor Ahmed Abdullahi has announced. Speaking during a health intervention event in Wajir Town on Thursday, Governor Abdullahi credited the improvement to strengthened partnerships between county and national health authorities, which have led to better case management and faster medical response.
“Today, we are seeing signs of hope. The number of patients being treated and discharged has surpassed new admissions, a strong indication that our efforts are bearing fruit,” he said.
To bolster diagnostic capacity, the Kenya Blood and Transplant Services (KBTS) donated a state-of-the-art blood testing machine to the county. The equipment will enable precise diagnosis and tailored treatment for Kala-azar patients, helping to avoid complications and reduce treatment delays. A new satellite blood bank was also unveiled, which the governor hailed as a “game-changer” for health service delivery in the region.
Access to timely testing and blood supply has been a major challenge in Wajir’s fight against Kala-azar. Since the outbreak began in September last year, over 600 people have been infected, with 29 reported deaths. Eldas and Wajir West sub-counties remain the hardest hit, with 106 active cases currently under treatment.
In a bid to reach remote communities, the Ministry of Health has deployed three mobile laboratories to the worst-affected areas. These mobile units, equipped with modern diagnostic tools, are helping bridge access gaps caused by poor infrastructure and the county’s vast landscape.
Beyond clinical efforts, the Wajir County Health Department has rolled out a 10-day vector control campaign targeting over 6,000 households. The exercise involves fumigating homes and spraying to eliminate sandflies—the disease’s primary vectors.
Kala-azar, also known as visceral leishmaniasis, mainly affects children under five and the elderly. It causes symptoms such as prolonged fever, weight loss, and loss of appetite. The recent surge in infections has been linked to flooding, which has created ideal breeding grounds for sandflies.
Governor Abdullahi reaffirmed the county’s commitment to eliminating the disease, emphasizing that the current momentum offers hope for a healthier future.
