Turkana county unveils mpox emergency plan amid high-risk concerns

Turkana County has developed an emergency preparedness and response plan to prevent a possible mpox outbreak in the region.

The county is classified as high-risk due to its proximity to three international borders with Uganda, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. The interaction between Turkana and Congolese fish traders further heightens the risk, according to the county health department.

The plan was unveiled during an mpox sensitisation meeting, supported by the Core Group Partners Project through the International Rescue Committee, targeting the county health management team and partner representatives.

Longole Wangoris, the County Health Executive Member, stated that the department is working to establish an emergency operation as part of its preparedness strategy against an mpox outbreak.

Speaking in Lodwar during the meeting, Wangoris emphasised the importance of ensuring health worker safety as part of the preparedness plan and highlighted the need for adequate personal protective equipment.

"It is crucial to engage relevant stakeholders, including those from the Water and Tourism sectors, for support in surveillance and public sensitization," said Wangoris.

Katra Abdi, Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health, stressed the importance of learning from previous Covid-19 response plans and comparing the current strategy with those from other regions that share similar characteristics.

Dr Ezekiel Etelej from Medical Services recommended adapting mpox guidelines currently under development by the National Ministry of Health to fit Turkana’s specific situation.

Sub-county committees of the emergency response team, drawn from Turkana's eight sub-counties, attended the meeting to contribute their input on the preparedness and response plan.

There is currently a nationwide alert on the mpox outbreak, as the Ministry of Health confirmed the fifth case on Friday—a 28-year-old female from Mombasa.