Frontline health volunteers in Turkana County lead fight against deadly diseases

In the vast, remote corners of Turkana County, a new kind of healthcare hero is emerging: community mobilisers (CMs) — ordinary men and women trained to detect, report, and help prevent disease outbreaks before they spiral out of control.

Working alongside community health promoters (CHPs), community disease reporters (CDRs), and government surveillance teams, these frontline volunteers form a vital early warning system in some of Kenya’s most vulnerable border regions.

Recently, 16 CMs from 19 cross-border health facilities in Todonyang, Kibish, Turkana West, Lokichogio, and Lokiriama completed a three-day intensive training on community-based disease surveillance (CBS).

Organised by county and sub-county health teams and supported by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) through the Core Group Partners Project (CGPP), the sessions focused on early disease detection, proper case definitions, and prompt reporting of zoonotic and priority diseases.

The training is already proving critical. CMs are now better equipped to identify signs of diseases such as acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), polio, measles, neonatal tetanus (NNT), anthrax, rabies, brucellosis, and Rift Valley Fever.

"This training equips CMs to carry out active case searches even at the facility level," said Absolom Kuya, Turkana County Disease Surveillance Coordinator. "They can now report cases immediately, ensuring faster response and treatment."

In border areas where pastoral communities move freely across national lines, this vigilance is especially crucial.

"The expected outcome is timely detection," said Abdi Jamal, CGPP Project Manager for Turkana. "If not caught early, these diseases could devastate entire communities, especially along border points."

But for CMs, the work is more than numbers and data—it’s deeply personal.

Jedida Adome, a CM from Lokipoto Dispensary in Turkana West, shared one life-changing experience: a mother who had delivered one twin at home faced life-threatening complications with the second birth. Jedida, alongside a CHP, rushed her to the hospital. By the time they arrived, the mother’s blood pressure was nearly undetectable. She survived—and today, she is raising her baby.

"That day taught me every second counts. Teamwork saved a life," Jedida recalled.

Knowledge gaps

For Jedida, the training has also filled critical knowledge gaps. "I’ve learned how to engage better with my community, and that’s helping me serve them more effectively."

Robert Kosowan, another CM from Todonyang Dispensary in Kibish, remembers the day five children were bitten by a rabid dog. He quickly mobilised a CHP and CDR, secured an ambulance from a nearby Catholic Parish, and got the children to the hospital. Thanks to their swift action, all five survived—and the incident sparked a new wave of community vigilance and reporting.

Stephen Bwire, Disease Surveillance Officer for Lokiriama Sub-County, calls CMs "community foot soldiers" in the fight against preventable diseases. He acknowledges ongoing challenges, particularly in case definitions and diagnosis, which make refresher trainings like this essential.

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"To keep CMs motivated and sharp, we engage them in data-sharing and performance reviews. It reminds them their work matters," Bwire said.

Turkana remains Kenya’s largest county, and the challenges are equally vast: long distances, limited resources, and communities that require ongoing education and support.

Yet despite these hurdles, the commitment of these trained mobilisers is unwavering. With continued support from development partners and collaboration with county governments, their growing skills and community trust mean one thing: more lives will be saved.

In Turkana’s toughest terrains, these everyday citizens are proving that early action, teamwork, and dedication can make all the difference.