We remain resolute in tackling kala-azar despite upsurge, Governor Abdullahi says

Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi with a team from MSF in his office.

Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi on Friday said his administration remains steadfast and resolute in tackling kala-azar despite the upsurge in cases.

The CoG chair said that while the battle to completely contain the disease is far from over, he quick commended the progress made so far.

So far, 26 lives have been lost to the disease, with 106 admitted at the county referral hospital since its outbreak in September last year, with Eldas and Wajir West sub-counties the most affected.

He spoke in his office when he met the team of medics led by Ali Noor is the field coordinator for MSF, who paid him a courtesy call on Friday.

“As a county, we have taken a leading role in responding to the outbreak. However, we want to thank the Ministry of Health and other partners whose support has been instrumental in containing further spread of the disease. We don’t take this for granted. We are truly grateful,” he said.

“The ministry’s support has been very instrumental. They have deployed two mobile laboratories, a critical reinforcement in our testing and treatment efforts. With these additional resources, we are now better equipped to contain the outbreak and provide care to those in need."

To strengthen the county’s efforts, Abdullahi said his administration took decisive action—securing life-saving drugs from the Netherlands, launching a rapid fumigation exercise in the affected areas, and increasing our hospital's bed capacity to accommodate the growing number of patients.

Governor Abdullahi, who later visited the Wajir County referral hospital to check on the patients, admitted that the disease has overwhelmed the hospital.

He urged the community to seek early diagnosis and treatment, citing poor healthcare-seeking culture as the biggest contributor to many of the deaths.

“We urge the community to seek early diagnosis and treatment, as kala-azar can take a severe toll on the immune system if left untreated. Timely intervention can mean the difference between recovery and life-threatening complications,” he said.

The county boss said the urgency of the situation also pushed the county to acquire additional test kits, ensuring quicker diagnosis and treatment.

Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi poses for a group photo with a team from MSF.

On Tuesday, health teams from both the national and county governments embarked on using mobile laboratories to help in early screening.

Medical teams have also been dispatched to the worst-hit areas, where residents are subjected to early screening so as to improve on early detection and treatment of the disease.

The disease, which has mostly affected children under 5 years old and the elderly, causes irregular amounts of fever, weight loss, and loss of appetite.

The outbreak follows recent floods that have led to widespread vegetation growth and large cracks in the ground—ideal breeding grounds for the sandflies responsible for transmitting the disease.

Kala-azar is common in arid and semi-arid regions of northeastern and the Rift Valley, especially Loima Sub-County of Turkana, Marigat in Baringo, Machakos, Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, and West Pokot counties.

The parasite is 1.5 to 3.5 millimeters long.