Marigat and Chemolingot sub-county hospitals in Baringo have been identified by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) for support in efforts to combat Hepatitis B and Kala-azar.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. It is spread through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids, including from mother to child at birth, unsafe injections, unprotected sex, or sharing contaminated needles.
Symptoms of Hepatitis B may include fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, joint pain, and yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice). Some people, however, may show no symptoms for a long time while the infection slowly damages the liver.
Kala-azar (also known as visceral leishmaniasis) is a severe parasitic disease caused by the Leishmania parasite, transmitted through the bite of infected sandflies. It affects internal organs such as the liver, spleen, and bone marrow and can be fatal if untreated.
Symptoms of Kala-azar include prolonged fever, weight loss, swelling of the spleen and liver, weakness, anaemia, and darkening of the skin in some cases. Without treatment, the disease can severely weaken the immune system and lead to death.
The area is among the most affected in Kenya, ranking among the top three for the highest prevalence of Hepatitis B and fifth in cases of Kala-azar, a parasitic disease transmitted by sandflies. Kenya is also among the leading countries in the region, reporting a high burden of both infections.
Speaking to the press outside the Baringo governor’s office in Kabarnet town, KEMRI Chief Executive Officer Prof Elijah Songok said the establishment of the two model health facilities is aimed at eradicating the endemic diseases in the region.
He noted that the area is among the hardest hit, citing its ranking among the top three in Kenya for Hepatitis B prevalence and fifth for Kala-azar cases.
Prof. Songok said KEMRI is working in collaboration with the county administration, led by Governor Benjamin Cheboi, to establish dedicated centres for testing and managing patients from within the region and beyond.
“We are going to jointly lobby for Hepatitis B vaccines so that every household that is facing the risk is vaccinated and set up a clinic for all those who have been infected,” he said.
He further noted that Kala-azar vaccines would be introduced in Chemolingot for the first time in the country, with trials to be conducted alongside similar studies in Brazil and the United States.
Governor Cheboi, in his remarks, thanked KEMRI for the initiative, saying it will significantly improve healthcare services in the area.
He added that the partnership will also support research into anti-venom to address the persistent threat of snakebites in the region.
In Kenya, Kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis) is mainly concentrated in arid and semi-arid northern and northeastern regions, particularly in counties such as Baringo, West Pokot, Turkana, Wajir, Marsabit, Isiolo, and Garissa, where sandflies that transmit the disease are more common. Outbreaks are often linked to poverty, poor housing conditions, and limited access to healthcare.
Kala-azar requires prompt hospital treatment with antiparasitic drugs like liposomal amphotericin B or miltefosine. If treated early, it is curable, but without treatment, it can be fatal. Prevention focuses on reducing sandfly exposure.
Hepatitis B is more widely distributed across the country. Still, higher prevalence has been reported in parts of western Kenya, the Rift Valley, and some northern counties, including Baringo and Pokot areas, as well as urban informal settlements where screening and vaccination coverage remain low. Transmission is often linked to mother-to-child infection, unsafe medical practices, and low vaccination uptake in older populations.
Hepatitis B may resolve on its own in acute cases, while chronic cases require long-term antiviral treatment such as tenofovir or entecavir, along with regular monitoring to prevent liver damage. Vaccination is the main preventive measure.
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