Mandera County to build center for research and disease control

Mandera County governor, Ali Roba. (Courtesy)

By: Abdirahman khalif

The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and Mandera County government are sightseeing partnership that will establish a regional research and disease control center in the County.

Ali Roba, the Mandera County governor said  it was unlucky that the county is not able to carry out cross border surveillance even though people from the neighboring Somalia and Ethiopia come to Mandera for treatment. He was speaking after meeting KEMRI officials who toured the area.

The governor said that construction of  a research center in the county will go a long way in finding long term solutions for residents of Mandera and those who come from the neighboring countries.

“I vastly appreciate the good gesture by KEMRI to create a regional base here, we shall give support and equal commitment in making this program a success,” Roba said.

Mr. Roba said that Mandera County had suffered the worst health indicators before devolution that not only exceeded the national  averages but global ones too. Mandera had a rate of 3,796 deaths per 100, 000 live births as compared to the national average of 488 deaths per 100,000 live births. Mandera had also  suffered the worst maternal death rate indicators not only in Kenya but in the world.

However, this figures have enhanced due to the increase of health facilities brought about by devolution  which provide basic emergency  health  services to all. The County has also had increase in health workers from 154 to 833 including 34 medical officers.

The governor noted that Mandera inherited 154 health care workers from the National government many whom he said  were unskilled. He however added the County had managed to increase the number to 833 skilled health officials  including 34 medical officers.