The Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, on Sunday urged residents of Kianyaga in Kirinyaga County to adopt preventive health practices to curb the spread of waterborne and vector-borne diseases, especially during the rainy season.
Addressing a gathering at the newly constructed ACK Mutitu St. Mark Church, Ms. Muthoni stressed the importance of simple hygiene practices such as regular handwashing, boiling drinking water, and eliminating stagnant water to help prevent diseases like cholera and malaria.
She also promoted the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme, highlighting its role in improving access to essential healthcare services.
The SHA model, she explained, enables hospitals to receive direct payments, thus enhancing service delivery in areas such as intensive care, cancer treatment, and mental health.
Acknowledging the role of Community Health Promoters, the Principal Secretary praised their contributions to preventive care, maternal and child health, early disease detection, and data collection for better health planning at the community level.
Ms. Muthoni also took the opportunity to caution youth against drug and substance abuse, warning of its harmful effects on individual health and societal development.
The visit formed part of the Ministry of Health’s wider campaign to strengthen health education and build resilient community health systems nationwide.
