Principal Secretary for Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni on Wednesday officially launched the International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action.
The initiative, running from October 22 to 25, 2024, is themed “A Bright Future Begins with a Lead-Free Kenya”.
In her address, PS Muthoni reassured the government’s commitment to finalizing policies, enforcing regulations, and launching a nationwide campaign to address lead poisoning.
The PS said that the initiative marks a critical step towards ensuring a healthier and safer future for all Kenyans.
"There is no safe level of exposure to lead, and the harmful effects, especially on children, are unacceptable. This is a moment for us to unite and accelerate our efforts,” she said.
She made the remarks when chairing a meeting with representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Development Partners, researchers, media, and the paint industry.
The Principal Secretary highlighted Kenya's strides, including setting stringent limits on lead in paint and eliminating leaded petrol.
She also called for further collaboration with development partners to support diagnostic infrastructure, saying.
"We need to establish screening for lead in blood among high-risk groups, but we are resource-constrained. We appeal to our partners to join us in this critical endeavour," she said.
Muthoni stressed the need for clear protocols for blood lead level assessments and strengthened multisectoral coordination to combat lead exposure.
"Together, we can realize a lead-free Kenya. Our children deserve to grow, learn, and thrive in a safe environment," she concluded.
PS Muthoni said efforts have been made to amplify our efforts to educate the public and promote public health by minimising lead exposure.
“Our collective goal is to devise viable strategies to counter lead exposure within our nation,” she said in a statement on X.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers of Lead exposure, especially for children and pregnant women.
The initiative has put in place initiatives to focus on the severe health impacts of lead poisoning that may cause irreversible damage such as learning disabilities and developmental issues.
The initiative is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with USAID Momentum, CEJAD, UNEP, WHO, and UNICEF.