Kisumu,
Sunday July 7, 2024
KNA by Marion Atieno/Sauda Hussein
Thousands of children in Kisumu County are likely to miss essential vaccines following a shortage of the commodity in the region.
Kisumu Central Sub-County Immunization Coordinator Jael Aran said the last consignment delivered by the government in June was less than what was ordered by the County Government.
As a result, she said the County Department of Health has released the buffer stock expressing fears that it may not last up to September when the next batch is expected.
“We order on a quarterly basis. That means that what we ordered in June was supposed to take us up to September. But as we speak, what we have may not take us through August,” she said.
Most of the Sub-Counties, she said, were having very few doses of BCG, Oral Polio Vaccine, Measles Rubella vaccine and Rotavirus spreading fears of spread of preventable diseases in children if urgent measures are not taken to address the shortage.
To make matters worse, other medical supplies under the expanded immunization program including safety boxes, bin liners, 5 ml and 2 ml syringes were out of stock.
Aran said there was no official communication from the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) regional office on when the commodities will be available.
The situation has spread fears amongst mothers and caregivers in the area with some facilities struggling to purchase syringes and gloves to administer the remaining stocks.
Courtesy; KNA
