March 24, 2023 – Page 3 – Djibouti News Gazette

March 24, 2023

Leaders Appealing For More Prisons In Turkana

The officer in charge of Lodwar GK prison Maurice Opili is appealing to the county government to allocate the institution more land to address overcrowding at the prison. Opili said his office had engaged the county government over the issue but it was still waiting for a formal commitment from the county lands department. Lodwar GK prison currently has 760 inmates against a capacity to hold 500 inmates. The institution wants to be allocated land in Kakuma where there is a law court and Lokichar where mobile courts are held. ‘It is costly to transport inmates from Kakuma in Turkana West and Lokichar in Turkana south sub counties to Lodwar law court,’ he said. Going to and from Kakuma to Lodwar is 240 km while Lokichar to Lodwar to and fro journey is 180 km. He added that the construction of the prisons will not only address congestion at Lodwar GK prison but also create employment through tenders for the local community. Refugees from Kakuma account for a big number of inmates at the prison. Lack of documents such as title deeds to bail out the inmates is another factor accounting for the high number of inmates in the prison according to the officer in charge. The prison is a KCPE examination centre that currently has 16 registered candidates. ‘An adult classroom is needed to cater for the illiterate adult prisoners,’ added Opili. The candidates are taught by one female adult education teacher which means the male inmates are left on their own. Meanwhile, the county ICT officer Brian Ngetich has decried the theft of digital learning devices in schools and called for vigilance to curb the menace. He also cited lack of electricity connectivity in some schools as a challenge in the county that has slowed the full implementation of the program.

Source: Kenya News Agency

March 24, 2023

Protests Hurting Tourism, CS Malonza

The tourism sector has suffered a major blow since Azimio la Umoja started demonstrations in the country, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage Peninnah Malonza has said. Malonza who spoke at the Maasai Mara National Reserve during the launch of Maasai Mara Management Plan, Spatial Plan and the Greater Maasai Mara Ecosystem Plan regretted that a number of foreigners have cancelled hotel bookings following the recent demonstrations in the country. ‘I am the current CS in charge of Tourism and I can confirm the major threats that the illegal demonstrations have posed to the sector. We have witnessed hotel bookings being cancelled every day,’ said Malonza. Malonza was in the company of Environment and Forestry CS Soipan Tuya, Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu and her three Principal Secretaries Ummi Bashir (Culture and Heritage), John Ololtuaa (Tourism) and Silvia Kihoro (Wildlife). ‘If there is anyone who has been severely affected by the demonstrations it is the Tourism industry which is one of the biggest foreign earners of the country,’ she said. Governor Ntutu who is the Chairman of the Tourism and Wildlife Committee at the Council of Governors said the demonstrations are a great threat to Tourism in Kenya. He said the Narok people depend on Tourism for livelihood and the demonstrations will affect them economically. ‘If the former Prime Minister loves the Maasai Community as he claims, then he should call off the demonstrations immediately because they are affecting the people,’ he said. Their sentiments were echoed by East Africa Legislative Assembly MP David Sankok, Narok East MP Ken Kiloku and Narok Deputy Governor Tamalinye Koech who called on the Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga to call off the demonstrations for the sake of the economy. Sankok asked those engaging in demonstrations to use the same energy to till their farms in this season that it is raining around the country. Narok County largely depends on Tourism as over 70 per cent of its domestic earnings is gotten from the Maasai Mara. In the current financial year, the County government estimated to collect Sh. 2.9 billion from the National Reserve.

Source: Kenya News Agency

March 24, 2023

FKF Conduct Referee Trainings

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) in Tharaka Nithi County has commenced training football referees in the region ahead of Kenya Youth Intercountry Sports Association (KYSA) in April. Speaking to the media during the training at Chuka Igamba Ng’ombe CDF offices, FKF chairman Mbogo wa Nthiga said that they were conducting a referee class 2 course to equip them with advanced skills. The chairman revealed that it was mandatory for soccer referees to have class 2 course certificates in order to participate in the upcoming KYSA games in April. ‘KYSA requires referees to have class 2 course certificate during the games so this training has come at a relevant time,’ he said He disclosed that last year they conducted class 3 course training and the successful football arbitrators were well prepared for the advanced class 2 course this year. FKF aims to ensure that footballers in the county reach the national level, he noted, adding that the training will help the referees conduct better matches and produce good results in the intercountry games. The chairman said that they are seeking more funding from the government and requested the team to remain motivated. On her part, FIFA technical department instructor Damaris Kimani said that the organization aims to change the face of football in every county. ‘We are here to help our referees to come up with good ideas that will change football in Tharaka Nithi County through learning various football rules,’ she said Ms. Kimani expressed that it was necessary for the team to know what is expected in FIFA to advance to international levels. ‘We need more referees with international level skills, those who can participate in premier leagues and other big matches so our goal is to train them to the next level,’ she said During the training, the field judges will learn about the laws of the game, she said, adding that this will lead to promotions of the referees to coordinate bigger matches after successfully passing the courses. ‘We are here to monitor them, their capability to control matches depending on number and give them current amendments of the game to fully equip them for the next levels,’ she said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

March 24, 2023

WHO To Fast-Track Initiative To End TB Globally

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that it is expanding the scope of the WHO Director-General’s (DG) Flagship Initiative on tuberculosis over the period from 2023 to 2027 to support fast-tracking progress towards ending TB and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030. Tuberculosis remains one of the world’s top infectious killers, causing 1.6 million deaths each year and affecting millions more, with enormous impacts on families and communities. The COVID-19 pandemic coupled with ongoing crises such as armed conflict, food insecurity, climate change, political and economic instability, has reversed years of progress made in the fight against TB. Last year, for the first time in nearly two decades, WHO reported an increase in the number of people falling ill with TB and drug resistant TB, alongside an increase in deaths. ‘TB is preventable, treatable and curable, and yet this ancient scourge that has afflicted humanity for millennia continues to cause suffering and death for millions every year,’ said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. Ghebreyesus added that WHO is committed to supporting countries to step up their response, by expanding access to services to prevent, detect and treat TB as part of their journey towards universal health coverage, and to strengthen their defenses against epidemics and pandemics. The WHO DG flagship initiative on TB builds on the progress achieved and lessons learned from 2018-2022. It aims to scale up the delivery of quality care to people living with TB through equitable access to WHO-recommended rapid diagnostics, shorter all-oral treatment for infection and disease, increasing their access to social protection and other innovations including digital tools for health. The initiative highlights the pressing need to increase both domestic and international investments in TB services, research, and innovation, particularly in new vaccine development. It calls for TB services and programmes, particularly in countries with a high TB burden, to be recognized as an essential component of health systems, bolstering primary healthcare and pandemic preparedness and response. The move comes against a backdrop of World Tuberculosis Day this year which is being commemorated under the theme ‘Yes! We can end TB!’ with the goal of promoting optimism and fostering high-level leadership, increased investments, rapid adoption of new WHO recommendations, and strengthened multisectoral partnerships to combat the TB epidemic. As part of the DG Flagship initiative, a special call to action is being issued by WHO and partners urging Member States to accelerate the rollout of new WHO-recommended shorter all-oral treatment regimens for drug-resistant TB. Drug-resistant TB continues to be a pressing public health concern, taking a significant toll on individuals affected by TB, communities, and healthcare systems worldwide. In 2021, nearly half a million people fell ill with multidrug- or rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB), only one in three accessed treatment. New WHO guidelines on drug-resistant TB treatment recommend rapid roll-out of the novel BPaLM/BPaL regimen that has the potential to significantly increase cure rates due to its high effectiveness, offer more extensive access because of its lower cost, and improve patients’ quality of life, as it is an all-oral treatment that is considerably shorter than traditional regimens. ‘2023 is our chance to push forward the agenda towards ending TB,’ said Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Programme. ‘On World TB Day, WHO is pressing for firm political commitment at the highest level, strong multi-sectoral collaboration including beyond health, and an effective accountability system. We need everyone-individuals, communities, societies, donors and governments-to do their part to end TB. Together, yes, we can end TB.’ In September 2023, the UN General Assembly will convene three High-Level Meetings focusing on UHC, pandemic preparedness and response and ending TB. There are clear linkages between these agendas and the Heads of State will deliberate to accelerate action, including on the goal to end TB.

Source: Kenya News Agency

March 24, 2023

Lodwar Residents Benefit From Free TB Screening

Turkana County Government, through County Department of Health and Sanitation, has screened over 400 people in the low-income neighbourhood of California and Soweto for Tuberculosis (TB) in line with its strategy to eradicate the fatal infectious disease in the County. The three-day screening exercise, leading up to the World TB Day marked every year on March 24th, is meant to identify the people in the early stages of the disease for immediate treatment to reduce its spread. While speaking on the first day of screening, the County Coordinator of TB, Leprosy and Lung Diseases – Dr Job Okemwa said the two neighbourhoods were selected for the screening due to the congested living conditions that increase the risk of TB transmission among the residents. ‘TB is preventable and curable that has been the consistent message in every World TB Day theme since it was earmarked for eradication, however this goal depends on early diagnosis and treatment,’ he said. According to Jonah Ngasike – Turkana Central Sub-county TB Coordinator, the results at the end of the three-day exercise would give a true picture of the TB burden in the urban slums of Lodwar town. ‘This would give the County TB Program a way forward to develop interventions that would reduce transmission in similar conditions,’ he said. As of the first quarter of 2023 (January to March), the two areas had already recorded 18 new cases which compared to the same period last year with 16. Jonah pointed out that the 2023’s first quarter was yet to end, thus expecting an increase of new TB cases identified in the concluded screening exercise. For five months, Mzee Ekai had a persistent cough and experienced difficulty in breathing, chest pains and pain when swallowing. The 83-year old, a resident of Soweto, was screened on the first day, on the second diagnosed with TB and on third day placed on the free six-month TB treatment regime; supported by the National TB, Leprosy and Lung Diseases Program. ‘I’m glad that I heard the public address system announcing the free TB screening and now I have the medical assistance I needed,’ he said. Dennis Erot, Project coordinator for World Relief International, pointed out that such TB screening was an indicator of positive community engagement which is essential in the progress to end TB. ‘Through collaboration and meaningful partnership with health partners, integration of TB active case finding in other community health outreaches will improve early detection,’ he said. This year’s World TB Day will be held in Turkana South Sub-county’s Lokichar Sale Yard with additional two days of free TB screening at Uhuru and AGC High Schools on the 24th and 25th March respectively. The screenings and activities were supported by World Relief Kenya, Save the Children Kenya, Kenya Red Cross, Centre for Health Solutions, USAID Imarisha Jamii, International Rescue Committee and Lodwar Hills Hospital.

Source: Kenya News Agency