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. 2024 Nov 22;15(1):741.
doi: 10.4102/jphia.v15i1.741. eCollection 2024.

Improved cholera control in Kenya: A retrospective analysis of 2017-2019 in Nairobi and Homabay

Kyeng Mercy  1   2 , Ganesh Pokhariyal  3   4 , Noah T Fongwen  5 , Nicaise Ndembi  2 , Lucy Kivuti-Bitok  6
Affiliations

Improved cholera control in Kenya: A retrospective analysis of 2017-2019 in Nairobi and Homabay

Kyeng Mercy et al. J Public Health Afr. .

Abstract

Background: Kenya has recorded at least 38 678 cases and 695 deaths over the last decade, and costing on average $2.2 million annually. From 2014 to 2016, the country experienced one of the deadliest and largest outbreak. However, between 2017 and 2020, there was a decline in the number of reported cases and deaths.

Aim: This study seeks to reveal the investments made post the 2014-2016 outbreak and highlight existing gaps that need to be addressed to stop the resurgence of cholera outbreaks in Kenya.

Setting: The study was conducted in two counties: Homabay and Nairobi.

Methods: We used an observational study. Data were collected from 20 health facilities (involved in cholera control, during the study), 9 key informant interviews (KII) and 6 focus group discussions (FGDs).

Results: We found improvement such as: dissemination of standard operating procedures, aligned reporting system, field epidemiology programme, establishment of a public health emergency operating centre and improved partner coordination. On the other hand, 12 of the selected 20 (60%) facilities had no prior training before government financing and laboratory capacity was sub-optimal: 13 (65%) facilities had no prior training, 16 (20%) had no operational laboratory plan and 10 (50%) had inadequate laboratory test kits and reagents.

Conclusion: This study highlights that Kenya has experienced an improvement in specific core capacities.

Contribution: For Kenya to completely flatten the curve, there is need for more sustainable investment and government's commitment in health system strengthening.

Keywords: Kenya; cholera; evaluation; response; surveillance.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Trend of cholera cases in Kenya from 2013 to 2023.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Account of resource availability.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) Data Flow in Kenya.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
System attributes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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