Vihiga County to absorb 321 casual health workers

Three hundred and twenty-one casual health care workers in Vihiga County are to be absorbed on a permanent and pensionable basis.

Governor Dr Wilber Ottichilo assured the workers who were employed in 2019 that the process of absorbing them was at an advanced stage.

The governor was speaking at Roddy’s Green Lounge in West Bunyore, Emuhaya Sub County when he hosted the team for a luncheon on Monday.

“I would like to commend you for being committed to your service delivery despite the challenges while executing their duties,” he said.

He stated that they have allocated funds to cater for the improvement of their terms of service as well as paying salary arrears.

At the same time, malaria, respiratory and skin infections have been identified as being among the common diseases affecting under-fives in the county.

Dr Kennedy Onchoge, who is in charge of child health, says malaria is the most prevalent among children aged one to five years.

Dr Onchoge disclosed that they recorded 33,868 cases of malaria and 53,719 cases of respiratory infection last year.

“We have been distributing insecticide-treated mosquito nets in a bid to combat malaria where the nets are issued to expectant mothers while attending prenatal clinics,” he stated.

He stated that partners such as Aphia-plus western, Africa Medical Research Foundation (AMREF) and the Ministry of Health have been donating the nets to ensure they were issued to as many as possible.

The medic expressed optimism that with the increased use of mosquito nets, the rate of malaria infection among children would significantly go down.