Uasin Gishu County has stepped up preparedness against possible Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks after Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and Community Health Assistants underwent specialized training on disease prevention, surveillance and response.

The training is part of efforts to strengthen community-level preparedness and ensure that suspected cases of Ebola and other public health threats are identified, reported and managed promptly before they can spread within communities.

The sensitization focused on key areas including Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), disease surveillance, risk communication, community awareness and timely reporting of suspected cases.

Health officials emphasized that community health workers remain a critical first line of defence in detecting unusual illnesses, educating residents and linking communities with health facilities and other relevant authorities.

Speaking during the training, Sub-County Disease Surveillance Coordinator Amos Komen stressed the importance of early detection and immediate reporting of suspected Ebola cases.

Komen urged Community Health Promoters and Community Health Assistants to remain vigilant while carrying out their duties, particularly when they encounter patients presenting with symptoms that may require further investigation.

He further called on the frontline health workers to adhere to established reporting procedures to ensure that suspected cases are escalated to the appropriate health authorities without unnecessary delays.

According to Komen, early reporting can give health authorities the opportunity to investigate suspected cases, initiate appropriate public health measures and prevent potential transmission within communities.

Sub-County Health Coordinator Wilson Tuwei highlighted the important role played by community health workers in creating awareness and ensuring that residents receive accurate and timely information during public health emergencies.

Tuwei encouraged the health workers to actively counter misinformation and misconceptions that can arise during disease outbreaks, noting that inaccurate information can create fear, confusion and resistance to public health interventions.

He urged the CHPs and Community Health Assistants to use their close relationship with residents to promote responsible health-seeking behaviour and encourage communities to report suspected cases as soon as possible.

The training also placed emphasis on effective risk communication, with participants encouraged to provide communities with clear information on disease prevention, symptoms and the appropriate channels for seeking assistance.

The approach is expected to strengthen public confidence while ensuring that residents are not misled by rumours or unverified information, particularly at a time when outbreaks of infectious diseases can rapidly generate concern.

On his part, Weldon Chepkwony, Project Officer under the Imarisha Jamii Project implemented by Amref Health Africa in Kenya, underscored the need to equip frontline community health workers with the knowledge and practical skills required to respond effectively to public health threats.

Chepkwony said community health workers must be adequately prepared because they are often among the first health personnel to interact with households and identify emerging health concerns.

He urged the participants to apply the knowledge gained during the training to strengthen community surveillance, infection prevention and control, risk communication and timely reporting.

The training comes as health authorities continue to place greater emphasis on strengthening disease surveillance at the community level, where early identification of unusual illnesses can play a significant role in preventing the escalation of public health emergencies.

Through the enhanced preparedness, Uasin Gishu is seeking to ensure that its community health workforce is equipped to identify potential threats, communicate effectively with residents and work closely with health facilities and surveillance teams.

The sensitization also reinforces the importance of coordination between county health officials, community health workers and development partners in preparing for infectious disease outbreaks.

Health workers were encouraged to maintain vigilance, follow established health protocols and ensure that suspected cases are reported through the appropriate channels.

The county's strengthened community-level preparedness is expected to improve the ability of health teams to respond rapidly to Ebola and other emerging infectious diseases while protecting both healthcare workers and the wider population.

Officials further stressed that community participation remains essential in disease prevention, urging residents to seek reliable health information, avoid spreading rumours and promptly report suspected cases to health authorities.