The Departmental Committee on Health in a session chaired by Hon.(Dr.) James Murgor (Keiyo North) yesterday conducted an inspection visit to Port Health in Busia one stop border post and Malaba Port Health.
During their visit to the border post, the Committee was informed that the main surveillance activities at the border are; food inspection- imports/exports through single window clearance system as a synchronised activity with other clearing agencies like KRA, KEPHIS, KEBS.
The Members further heard that the officials carry out disease surveillance which entails, screening of PHEOIC (public health emergencies of international concern) guided by IHR.
They also do Vaccinations of yellow fever, typhoid fever and hepatitis B. Surveillance of proper disposal of solid and liquid wastes.
Cross border disease surveillance. Other surveillance activities include disinfection of conveyances and decontamination of services and screening of Covid-19 and sampling of truckers for Covid-19 testing.
The officials informed the Members that the strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols and vaccinating a big number of people had greatly reduced the positivity rate of truck drivers to 0.2%.
The Committee also heard of the challenges faced by the border surveillance officials which include:insufficient sampling kits, lack of incinerators, few public health officers , a small isolation unit with only eight beds, lack of utility vehicle of carrying samples, lack of public health lab, and faulty scanner.
The Members undertook to push for their support from the national government through the Ministry of Health,so to enable them be in a good position to tackle the spread of Covid-19 pandemic from the border.
 James Murgor (Keiyo North) yesterday conducted an inspection visit){kind=link}