Snakebite is the leading Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) in Kitui County, with a total of 1,939 cases reported by victims who sought treatment at health facilities across the vast county in the last three years, 2020 to 2024.
However, the number of snakebites could be higher than the above-mentioned cases owing to the fact that some of the victims do not seek medical attention at public health facilities but opt for private health facilities, while others go for alternative methods of treatment rather than seeking medical services from the public health facilities.
According to medical records at Kitui County Level 4 Hospital, the snakebite envenoming is prevalent primarily in Kitui South, Mwingi North, Mwingi Central, and Kitui East constituencies.
Kala-azar is the second most endemic Neglected Tropical Disease in the County and is mainly prevalent in Mwingi North and Mwingi Central sub-counties. About 274 cases have been successfully treated and recovered in the last two years (2022-2024).
“Intestinal worms still pose a major challenge to children across all the sub-counties, but it is high in Kitui West and Mwingi Central. Trachoma also remains a challenge in several sub-counties,” the medical report adds.
The Kitui County NTDs report emphasises the urgent need for increased efforts to create awareness and combat the NTDs, which continue to affect millions of Kenyans, especially in impoverished communities.
Kitui Governor, Dr. Julius Malombe, while speaking last week when he led the county residents in marking this year’s World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, reaffirmed his government’s commitment to eliminate all the teething Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
“My administration has procured anti-snake venom, trained health workers, and supports regular mass deworming exercises at the village level. Additionally, we have installed laboratory equipment for Kala-Azar testing at both Mwingi and Tseikuru hospitals where the disease is prevalent,” said the governor as he underscored some of the key intervention measures done by his government in efforts to combat the NTDs menace.
Dr. Malombe further noted that the Kitui County administration has initiated development projects to help the fight against NTDs. The projects include the drilling of over 100 boreholes and the rehabilitation of earth dams across the county in order to improve sanitation and reduce NTD prevalence.
With respect to trachoma elimination, the governor said that the County has made major strides by reducing the number to 15 cases for the years 2022-2024, with the support of the National Ministry of Health.
During the ceremony held at Kitui Town Stadium in Kitui Town, the county leadership expressed gratitude to partners in the health sector, including WHO, AMREF, END Fund, Evidence Action, and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, for their contributions to the fight against NTDs.
Crucial in the fight also, the county boss appreciated all the county Community Health Promoters (CHPs) for their role in raising awareness and delivering essential healthcare services, especially in eradicating the NTDs at the grassroots level.
As the fight against NTDs continues, Kitui County has pledged to strengthen its health care systems, increase public awareness, and ensure that no one is left behind in the quest for a healthier, disease-free future.
To demonstrate commitment to the global eradication of NTDs, global health crusaders were on display with this year’s theme to mark NTD Day, dubbed “Unite for Health, Act with Purpose, Eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases for Good”. This aligns with global efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets 3.3 and 3.8, which focus on ending epidemics and ensuring universal health coverage.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for increased domestic funding, community engagement, and policy interventions to accelerate the fight against these diseases.
Nationally, over 30 million Kenyans suffer from NTDs, with diseases such as bilharzia, jiggers, elephantiasis, and leprosy still affecting vulnerable populations. The Ministry of Health, alongside many other development partners, has continued to roll out interventions to control and eliminate these diseases.
By Denson Mututo and Dennis Mutuku
