Local news – 07.07.2011 - by zacheaus otaba - Nyanza health reproductive society resumes

The Nyanza health reproductive society, which suspended its services due to disagreement between the organization and the community has agreed to resume its duties. Following the consensus made today in a meeting held between the county task force on voluntary medical male circumcision and the organization's officials, the suspension was terminated. Delivering the report, the head of community mobilization Mr. Vincent Odiaro, said that there is need for the community to continue getting these services.
However he said that though Mr. Peter Lemu who was the district co-odinator is going to reinstated, there should proper auditing to ascertain the allegation of fraud.
This is the third meeting to be held since the suspension of the services. The meeting which was chaired by the district officer Mr. Levy Senoga and the NASCOP representative Dr. Gilchrist Lokoel, started at a high note with tension from both sides. However, the fume from some task force members, that NHRS should pack and go, was calm down after some thorough explanation by Dr Lokoel on how the service is important to the community.
This meeting brought together more than 35 task force members from different organizations. The organizations represented were EGPAF, APHIA plus world vision, IRC, media, provincial administration and ministry of heath.

Local news – 04.07.2011 - Otaba & kodet - M.O.H turkana central insists voluntary medical male circumcision services

The medical officer of health for Turkana central Dr. Epem Esekon today, has insisted that voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) services are still provided. He agreed that the services were suspended for some times, due to the disagreements between the interns and the Nyanza Health Reproductive Society.
He highlighted the disagreement as the break of proper communication and mis-information and the delaying of payments of the workers which has already been solved. He said that the services will resume fully as from Friday or Monday next week. The doctor clarified that those who had enrolled for those services, will still follow the same protocol.
Dr. Epem reiterated that voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) is a government project that is aimed at reducing the infection of HIV/aids by 60%. He was answering the allegations that NHRS has terminated these services in this region.
At the same time Dr epem has warned all pet keepers to make sure that they vaccinate or restrain them or face eradication. He said that his ministry and the department of veterinary will work together to save people and their animals from these stray dogs. Of recent these animals have become a threat to both people and their animals, especially in meteorological, Nakwamekwi and Kanamkemer villages.

LOCAL SPORTS – 03.07.2011 - By Zacheaus Otaba - Super united beaten at prisons stadium

Super united of Nakwamekwi today were beaten four scores to one by Earth Movers, in a friendly march that was played at prisons play ground. Earth movers took the lead at the 18th minute through striker Stanley Ngige, before the supers equalized at the 20th minute through Natinga Ariong. The united's hope diminished after Ngige scored the fourth goal, at the 68th minute, which gave his team a lead to the last whistle. He broke the record of netting all the four goals, in that game which was a return march of the previous game that was played at Nakwamekwi, in may this year. However, the supers lost a penalty, that would have at least given them two to four.
Both teams are preparing for the external tournaments and friendlies, that are kicking off late this month. Earth Movers will be hosting State Side FC next weekend in the same venue.

Local news - 30.06.2011 - by zacheaus otaba - Turkana county council presents its 210m buget to the public

The county council of Turkana presented its budget to the public today at the county council hall here in Lodwar town. The budget which was presented by the finance chairman county council of Turkana, Mr. Nicholas Ewoi is estimated to be more than 210M compared to 157.356M that was for the last financial year which ends today.
Presenting the budget, Mr. Ewoi said that the council will receive ksh.185,747,000 from the central government through LATF, as compared to ksh.131,316,756, that it received in the last financial year. He said that the budget suggested that revenue collection is going to be doubled to reach the expenses of the council in delivering better services to its people.
At the same time the county council clerk Mr. Christopher Onanda has urged the public to be on watch of all the projects that are initiated by the council in order to prove its standards. He said that the distribution of projects, has been dictated by the priorities given by the public. Mr. Onanda said that the council will be spreading its projects to the interior, away from the accessible roads.
However, this year's budget is expected to improve on the funds allocation on each project, of which they base on schools, dispensaries,water, bursaries and roads.

Local news – 29th.06.2011 - by otaba & kodet - Hundreds of residents turn for food distribution at social ministry

Hundreds of elderly and disabled people received relief food from the department of social Ministry Diocese of Lodwar early today. The program which is aimed at supporting the old and the disabled persons is organized by the diocese of Lodwar through the department of social ministry.
According to the social ministry coordinator Mr. Mark Nakain the challenge the department is experiencing is the hiking of food prices and the number of people is increasing.
He also urged the elderly to use the help-age money wisely and maximize each opportunity they get from the well wishers and other donors who are supporting them.
Mr. Nakain advised them to stop using the drags like tobacco and alcohol because the use of these drags will further weaken and cause more harm to them.
He appealed to donors, government and well wishers or any individual to support this program by contributing either food,clothes or funds to help the disabled and the old people because they need the care of the community.
On health Nakain said that there has been increase of spread of TB, which is becoming threat to the performing of the ministry.

Local news – 29.6.11 - By Mary Tioko - Community Led Total Sanitation (C.L.T.S) workshop

The workshop that has been organized by World vision Lokori integrated Program Area is facilitated by water sanitation and health project officer (WASH) Mr. Jackson Ewat and public health officer Loima District Mr. Jairus Mukangala has entered its second day of the theory before going for practicals tomorrow. The workshop has brought together 30 participants drawn from Turkana East and Turkana south Districts. The training aims at training teachers of trainers (chiefs, elders, religious leaders, community/village health committees), on Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation transformation (PHAST ) and C.L.T.S.
The facilitator took the participants through various Ways in which they get diseases saying that diseases are divided in three categories. Airborne, oral and diseases that are transmitted through the skin. In these categories Mr.Mukangala dwelt more on the oral way of transmission. He said that the fecal matter is the main cause of many illnesses in Turkana county due to cultural practices. Mr. Mukangala also talked about the five F's as ways through which they acquire germs I.e Fingers, Field, Fluid, Food and flies .
The preventive measures are, washing hands with soap for sometime in order for the soap to react with the germs and thus killing them after defecation and before eating. Keep the finger nails short, boil water before drinking, keep your environment clean, proper use of latrine's, wash raw fruits and vegetables before eating, proper disposal of wastes (disposal sites). The participants were also encouraged to clear bushes around their compounds, proper ventilation of houses, spraying of stagnant water with appropriate chemicals to prevent mosquito breeding, sleeping under treated mosquito nets, drain all stagnant water within the compounds, general personal hygiene by drying utensils on the direct light since it has an effect of bactericidal, covering of all left over foods, reheating of left over food before eating, brushing teeth after every meal, avoid spitting anyhow, protect water supply / sources, continuous health education, and use of gumboots in swampy areas to avoid contraction of bilateral /schstosomiasis.
He also demonstrated on house hold water treatment using pur, aqua tabs and water purifications tabs after taking the participants through the V. I. P principals and the quality of the various latrines in the area. He was perturbed when he saw some of the purported V.I.P latrines having ventilations warning all those who construct latrines to seek for quality assurance assistance in order to achieve the desired results in this exercise.