{"id":28316,"date":"2025-11-12T17:16:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T14:16:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/?p=28316"},"modified":"2025-11-12T17:16:02","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T14:16:02","slug":"siaya-joins-the-world-in-marking-pneumonia-day-for-kenya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/siaya-joins-the-world-in-marking-pneumonia-day-for-kenya\/","title":{"rendered":"SIAYA JOINS THE WORLD IN MARKING PNEUMONIA DAY FOR KENYA"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The County Government of Siaya today joined the world in marking World Pneumonia Day at the KMTC Grounds. Themed, \u201cDefeat Pneumonia: Every Breath Counts, Every Action Matters,\u201d, the event has been graced the Director General Ministry of Health Dr Partick Amoth and his team, while the County Government was represented by several County Executive Committee Members led by, Dr. Martin K\u2019Onyango (Health and Sanitation). Pneumonia remains one of the leading causes of death among children worldwide, killing over 700,000 under-fives every year more than any other illness across every region. Every 43 seconds, a child is lost. Behind these numbers are families devastated, futures diminished, and communities in mourning. We cannot allow these tragedies to persist.<\/p>\n

According to un-reported health demographics, pneumonia prevalence is rampant and is regarded as one of the killer diseases in Sub Saharan Africa and South East Asia. Kenya falls in Sub Saharan Africa with other countries such as Eritrea, South Africa and Niger among others. The rate of infections stands at 14% in Kenya. This translates to around 8,000 to 12,000 death cases by WHO and the Ministry of Health statistics. Some of the common signs and symptoms include chest pains, which can either be left chest or the right one, dry or productive cough, fever and chills, shortness of breath and general body weakness.<\/p>\n

According Dr. Amoth, Kenya has made real progress, yet gaps remain with the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey showing that only 43% of children with symptoms of acute respiratory infection received care within 48 hours. \u201cPneumonia kills fast; care must be earlier, closer, and affordable. That is why we are strengthening Primary Health Care (PHC) as our front line and urging all households to register under the Social Health Authority (SHA) so that financial barriers do not delay life-saving care for children,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"\"The DG said to improve quality and consistency nationwide, the Ministry has developed the Norms and Standards for Establishing Paediatric Care a major milestone to enhance newborn and child health services, including pneumonia management. \u201cWe have finalised the 2025 IMNCI guideline review and developed a scalable Infant and Child Mentorship package to reinforce competencies, promote adherence to national guidance, and institutionalise continuous quality improvement from community to referral levels,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

These instruments will be rolled out through routine supervision, mentorship, and data-driven performance reviews at national and county levels. They complement the ministry\u2019s investments in primary care networks, reliable oxygen ecosystems, and supply chain strengthening, ensuring that essential commodities from amoxicillin dispersible tablets to pulse oximeters and oxygen are available at the right place and time.<\/p>\n

Dr. Amoth who is also a native of Siaya called the residents and the county at large to renew their collective commitment: to strong Primary Health Care (PHC), timely care, high immunisation coverage, clean household air, and financial protection through Social Health Authority (SHA).He congratulated Siaya County for its progress in promoting equity and inclusivity in healthcare, urging continued focus on the three pillars of pneumonia response: Protect, Prevent and Treat.<\/p>\n

To contain the disease prevalence, the Nyalore administration under Governor James Orengo working with various development partners has accelerated health facility upgrades and built new ones to contain the vice. \u201cAdditionally, there has been increased health environmental cleanliness and improved immunization services through the Community workers known as Nyamrerwa (Community Health Promoters) by the County Government,\u201d said Dr. K\u2019Onyango. \u201cThe County Government has invested in green energy to help improve the disease prevalence by providing a fresh healthy environment, 90% of the facility interventions have been realized,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Mr. Anthony Mokoi from the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) commended the National government for partnering with the Ministry of Health and selecting Siaya County to host this year\u2019s commemoration. He noted that CHAI has supported the government in developing Norms and Standards for Establishing Pediatric Care and the Infant and Child Mentorship Package, aimed at strengthening the delivery of child health services and advancing Primary Health Care in Siaya.<\/p>\n

During his visit, Dr. Amoth toured the community health outreach program at Mulaha Chief\u2019s Camp, where he was received by Sub-County DPHN Nurse Solomon Onyango. The outreach showcased key health interventions such as immunization, vaccination, and growth monitoring. Dr. Amoth emphasized the crucial role of Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in leading community outreach to achieve zero child mortality. He acknowledged the county\u2019s efforts in establishing oxygen plants at the referral hospital and expanding early healthcare interventions. Gov. Orengo\u2019s 9-Point Agenda on healthcare infrastructure targets increased healthcare infrastructure to reduce the disease prevalence and burden on the citizens of Siaya<\/p>\n

\"\"Other CECMs who graced the occasion included Mr. Maurice Otieno McOrege (Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Development), Prof. Jacquline Oduol (Environment, Water, Climate Change, Irrigation and Natural Resources), CS Agunda Ochanda (Governance, Administration and ICT), Mr. Sylvester K\u2019Okoth (Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Blue Economy). Also in attendance included Chief Officer Health and Sanitation Dr Omondi Owino, Director of Public Health Mr. Kennedy Orwenjo, Director of Medical Dr. Eunice Fwaya, other CHMT members, CCNO Mr. Godfrey, CCSFP Mr. Joel, CRHC madam Pamela, CDSC Madam Cynthia among others. The supporting partner organizations included WHO, UNICEF, JHPIEGO, KEMRI, LIVING GOODS and Save the Children.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The County Government of Siaya today joined the world in marking World Pneumonia Day at the KMTC Grounds. Themed, \u201cDefeat Pneumonia: Every Breath Counts, Every Action Matters,\u201d, the event has been graced the Director General Ministry of Health Dr Partick Amoth and his team, while the County Government was represented by several County Executive Committee […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":28325,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[95],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28316","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-updates"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28316","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28316"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28316\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28325"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28316"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28316"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28316"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}