Community Health Workers (CHWs) of Nyando have been sensitized by county public health department and are now part of the COVID-19 pandemic response. The CHWs use all feasible means to help people in the rural communities to stay healthy and informed in the wake of COVID-19 endemic.

In the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, 1373 CHWs across the county have been trained and have embarked on community mobilization as a way of helping the communities in approaching preventive and containment measures within Kisumu.

Kochogo North village in Wawidhi Ward, Ms. Benter Akinyi Bodo – the CHW, organizes door to door consultations for fellow villagers, using materials from the health department.

“We regularly do home visits and in consultation with Ahero Sub-county hospital and the county health department, we share information on the preventive measures with the community and other CHWs in remote areas.” Said Ms. Bodo

According to Ms. Bodo the CHWs are available 24/7 on the ground to continue assisting the community with their regular interventions and community mobilization even in the wake of Coronavirus crisis.

The residents of Wawidhi ward in Nyando Sub County have also been affected by floods following the heavy rains that have caused havoc across the country resulting to displacement, upsurge in malaria and other water borne diseases.

“Despite the general fear that many have stayed away from the hospitals due to coronavirus pandemic, the residents of Nyando have continued to seek health services at the health facilities.”

Nyando Sub County has a total of 437 CHWs who have been sensitized to visit their communities and spread information about the necessary measures to primary health preventions. In the face of COVID-19, they have been sensitizing on how to identify and report cases as well as sensitizing the community on the measures of preventing the corona virus in their jurisdiction.

The County communication officers joined the CHWs during their regular home visits in Tura village where the area CHW, Ms Mercy Otondi, examined the hygiene-related behavior change in the homes by ensuring that the interventions are adhered to.

The CHWs also conduct regular temperature screening, crowd control and ensuring adherence to preventive measures among the people who visit health facilities.

Community health worker, Ms Benter Akinyi Bodo demonstrating the hand sanitizing process to a resident of Kochogo North during home visit ( Picture by David Wadulo)

Small scale traders in Kisumu are set to have better returns following the enhancement of roads in market centers.

The County government of Kisumu through the department of Business cooperatives and markets embarked on Nyang’ande market murraming and also murraming of the uneven roads that have constantly posted challenges to local traders providing goods and services at the market.

The construction of roads in the 100 by 70 M² market at a cost of 2.1M is set improved quantity of trade in Nyang’ande market at Kabonyo, Kanyagwal ward in Nyando Sub-County. Following the floods, the roads were constructed within a 2 months period.

The road corridors in and around the market have been rehabilitated to foster economic development of the area. Farmers and traders alike have a reason to smile now that they can easily get their produce to the market, while traders can now easily move commodities.

Nyangende market is located along Kisumu Ahero road and it has a capacity to accommodate 150 – 200 traders without social distancing measures.

Improved and completion of the 100 x 70 Meters, Nyang’ande Market at Kabonyo, Kanyagwal ward in Nyando Sub-County. The murraming of the inroad was at a cost of 2.1M

Farmers in Kisumu County today received cheques worth 51.6 Million Kenya shillings during the launch of a project dubbed Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP), co-funded by the World Bank and the County Government of Kisumu.

Kisumu is one of twenty four counties that have benefited from support from the World Bank for this project.

The project aims at increasing agricultural productivity and building resilience to climate change risks in targeted small holder farming.

The health department is currently working towards procurement of more personal protective equipment (PPE) COVID -19 tests, ventilators, face masks and other medical equipment.

The County health team is working together to determine how much equipment is needed, avoid irresponsible vendors and attempt to purchase as many Internally made products as possible to help in mitigating the pandemic.

Doctors, nurses and other front-line workers to be equipped with essential PPE supplies to care for COVID -19 patients. Supplies such as gloves, medical masks, respirators, goggles, face shields, gowns, and aprons will assist to see the county through this COVID-19 crisis. The face Masks will also be available for residents.

Healthcare workers rely on personal protective equipment to protect themselves and their patients from being infected and infecting others.

Health worker in full PPE regalia (Picture by Jacob Owiti)