The County Government of Uasin Gishu, under the leadership of Governor Dr. Jonathan Bii and in line with its second pillar on strengthening healthcare, has intensified efforts to combat typhoid fever through the upskilling of frontline health workers.
On Thursday, July 24, 2025, the County Department of Health Services, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, conducted a crucial training session for sub-county healthcare providers on the rollout of the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV).
The training focused on the integration of the TCV into routine immunization schedules across local health facilities.
Typhoid fever continues to pose a global health challenge, with 2019 data estimating over 9 million new cases and approximately 110,000 deaths annually. In Kenya, the disease burden is exacerbated by inadequate sanitation and growing resistance to antibiotics.
Speaking during the training, Acting Director of Health Services Dr. Billy Lubanga, together with County EPI Coordinator Joshua Masai, stressed the importance of adopting effective preventive measures like TCV.
“Given the persistent threat of typhoid, compounded by poor sanitation and rising antimicrobial resistance, the introduction of this vaccine is both timely and critical,” noted Dr. Lubanga.
Under the new schedule, the TCV will be administered to children at nine months of age a move expected to significantly reduce typhoid-related illness and fatalities while addressing the challenge of drug-resistant strains.
This initiative reaffirms Uasin Gishu’s unwavering commitment to building a resilient health system by empowering healthcare workers with the tools and knowledge necessary to deliver quality, life-saving care to residents.
