Nine inmates have been admitted to the hospital following a cholera outbreak at Thika GK Prison in Kiambu County.
What began as a single case that was reported on April 8, 2023, has since spread rapidly at the facility with 38 prisoners having been affected so far - some of whom have since recovered.
According to Kiambu County Commander of Prisons Karani Limanye, it all started when a sick inmate was admitted to the prisons from Thika Law Courts on April 4, 2023.
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Four days after his admission, nine cases of cholera, which is spread by ingesting faecal matter and which causes acute watery diarrhoea, were reported triggering prompt action by a team of prison doctors who were dispatched to attend to the patients at the facility.
The disease, which can kill within hours if not treated, saw the facility management set up an isolation ward, complete with a select team of doctors who have been managing the patients.
“We investigated and found out that the intake patient was admitted here on April 4. We have since had a rise in infections up to 38 prisoners. We have so far contained the disease and currently, we only have nine patients after others recovered,” Limanye said.
Limanye, who spoke when Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a donated a water tank to the prison, said that so far, two of the ailing inmates are admitted at Thika Level Five hospital while seven have been isolated within the facility.
Challenged by a lack of key equipment such as testing kits, the facility is now relying on community and well-wishers to help in containing the spread of the disease.
“We are working with the community and leaders from this region to combat the disease. We initially had the challenge of testing kits but we have since managed it,” added Limanye.
Speaking at the facility, MP Ng’ang’a said that proper measures had been put in place to avert the further spread of the disease, including testing of all incoming and outcoming staff and visitors of the facility.
The legislator insisted on the need for Thika residents and Kenyans to continue observing hygiene by regularly washing their hands to avoid contracting the disease.
“Like we did to combat Covid-19, we all have a duty to continually wash our hands. This is the surest way of fighting and or avoiding Cholera infections. The facility management is doing regular testing among its staff and visitors to avert further spread of the disease to the people outside this facility,” the MP said.
She urged water providers within the town to constantly provide water to the facility to facilitate all-time cleanliness among prisoners and the staff therein.
On his part, John Njiru Njue, the Kiambu County deputy speaker said the local government will undertake an initiative that will reduce water rationing even as he championed for the washing of hands to combat the disease.
He added that the local government would reach out to health officials within the county to find ways of containing the spread of the disease.
“We will work around the clock to ensure that we involve water providers and our health officers in fighting this disease including having awareness programs on the dangers of the disease,” Njiru said.
