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)

County Department of Agriculture has put in place strategies to raise productivity in food production that would not only  ensure food security, but also potentially alleviate poverty among households amid the floods and corona-virus pandemic.

As a result of the impact of floods, farming has been concentrated on the hilly areas such as Maseno, Nyahera and parts of Muhoroni where 830 bags each 2kgs of maize seeds, 1,500 bags of top dressing fertilizer and fall army worm pesticides have been distributed to farmers to boost production.

222 dairy goats were recently distributed to farmers across the 7 sub counties in Kisumu to restore livelihoods and combat critical levels of food insecurity and malnutrition in the wake of floods and Covid -19 pandemic.

In promoting horticulture, South East Nyakach has received 6,400 mango seedlings, 6,600 avocado seedlings and a variety of indigenous vegetables.

Further, 1,500 coffee seedlings of Batiang and Robusta varieties have also been distributed in South East Nyakach, another batch of 2,600 coffee seedlings of Arabica variety has been distributed in Kajulu, Seme and Kisum west courtesy of Agriculture Food Authority ( AFA).

So far 12 tons of conventional cotton, 380kgs of non- Bt hybrid and 140 kgs of Bt hybrid seeds have been distributed to the cooperatives within the county awaiting planting come January in the 1,000 acres slotted for cotton production.

Currently, about 560 bags of rice seeds each weighing 3kgs and fertilizers have been purchased and kept in stores awaiting distribution to the farmers come the month of June to revive rice farming in the flood affected areas after it subsides.

The aim is to build resilience of farmers against the effects of climate change and increase productivity in the targeted small holder farming envisaging transitioning of the County from a net importer to food sufficiency for local consumption and the export market.

This is expected to be achieved by expanding the knowledge and skills of farmers to transform agriculture from a low income, low efficiency and low technology sector to a vibrant modern sector supporting value addition through scientific and technological innovation, improved extension services and credit provision to transform agriculture from the old man’s job to a career of choice.

Ms-Peris-Akinyi one of the beneficiaries of county rice seeds and fertirlizer subsidies transplants rice at her paddy at Kore scheme in Ombeyi

Deputy Governor, Dr. Owili Issuing a cheque to one of the community common interest groups on value chains for chicken, cassava and sorghum

A Maize farm in Nyahera, Kisumu West Sub County one of the Kisumu food baskets

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.