Health ministry’s plan to fight El Niño mess crucial

With the expected heavy El Niño rains fast approaching, it is laudable that the authorities are already taking measures to avert deadly flooding.

The Ministry of Health has set aside Sh2.9 billion to enhance its preparedness to deal with the weather menace. The Kenya Meteorological Department has forecast a 99 per cent probability of above-normal rainfall. Therefore, adequate resources will be required to mitigate the heavy risks facing the country.

The Health ministry's plan targets specific mitigation and operational interventions across 18 high-risk counties. This is in response to the heavy flooding expected from October to December. The ministry is targeting the flood-prone counties for vital early interventions.

A draft Health Sector El Niño Contingency Plan is making vulnerability assessments, and mapping the high-risk counties. The ministry is also organising the procurement of essential medicines and other supplies. This also calls for the strengthening of water supply and sanitation. There is a need to improve the coordination of flood control measures.

A sizeable part of the budget will go to buying medicines, laboratory services and disease surveillance. Quite critical is the supply of essential drugs, cholera response kits, and laboratory equipment to locations likely to be cut off by floodwaters. The distribution of 10 million treated mosquito nets starting in November should help to prevent malaria surges.

The ministry will work with security agencies, including the Kenya Defence Forces, to coordinate the El Niño responses.

The heavy rains will trigger trauma, and cause drowning, disease outbreaks, mental health problems, displacement of people and aflatoxin poisoning. It will also disrupt health services through flooded facilities, power failures, damaged roads and supply-chain interruptions. The counties should devote more resources to clearing drains before the rains begin.

During the 2023 El Niño, 175 people died, 40 went missing and 242 were injured. According to the National Disaster Operations Centre, 60,367 households were affected, with nearly 384,216 people displaced.

To curb deaths and destruction, the Health ministry's efforts should be complemented by government agencies and other organisations.

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