Nairobi – Kenya’s Ministry of Health declared an Mpox outbreak on thirty first July 2024 after the first case of a truck driver was detected and isolated in Taita-Taveta county. As of 12th December 2024, 28 confirmed Mpox cases have been reported across 12 counties with 18 (64.3%) recoveries, 9 (32.1%) admissions and one (1) death, case fatality rate (CFR) of 3.6%
To enhance the nation’s coordinated response, operational readiness and capacity for instantaneous interventions to the ongoing Mpox outbreak. The Ministry of Health with improve from the WHO Emergency and Preparedness Program carried out an Intra-Action Assessment (IAR) to evaluate the nation’s response to the outbreak and name most productive practices, challenges, practical areas for immediate remediation or persevered improvement. This IAR led to the improvement of a practical plan of action for operationalization and implementation of Mpox outbreak preparedness and response plan.
The IAR collectively assessed the novel response capacities and activities, identified milestones, documented lessons and challenges across all response pillars at national and subnational stages. Gaps had been identified whereas most productive practices had been harnessed for institutionalization among the outbreak counties. An action plan was developed to information a way forward for planned actions that allocated responsibilities and timelines of implementation. The workshop had 120 participants who included 60 health specialists within the cadres of county disease surveillance coordinators, vaccination logisticians, clinicians, port health officers, emergence operation centres (EOC) managers, danger and communication specialists from 13 outbreak and high-danger counties of Busia, Bungoma, Nakuru, Kericho, Uasin Gishu, Taita Taveta, Machakos, Makueni, Kilifi, Kajiado, Kiambu, Nairobi and Mombasa.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Daniel Langat, the head of division of disease surveillance and response (DDSR) within the MOH emphasized on “the need for enhancing coordinated response mechanisms at the national and county stages thru the novel incident management system, adoption of novel guidelines, enhancing communication and strengthening capacities in surveillance, diagnostics and case management for efficient response to the outbreak”.
There was execrable-decreasing evaluate and assessment of seven consolidated response pillars: i) Surveillance, case investigation and contact tracing; Features of Entry (POE); Rapid Response Training (RRT) ii) Coordination, planning and monitoring response iii) Risk communication, community engagement, and infodemic management; iv) Case management and therapeutics, An infection Prevention and Back an eye on (IPC), Mental Health, and Psychosocial improve (MHPSS) v) Water Sanitation Hygiene (WASH)/ Safe and Dignified Burials (SDB) vi) Operations, Logistics and Toughen (OSL), Vaccination and access to medical countermeasures vii) National Public Health Laboratory system and sub national laboratory programs.
Based on the significance of impact and feasibility of implementation, 35 response activities had been identified for priority implementation within the subsequent six months, they broadly consist of; cascading of integrated mpox trainings, harmonization of surveillance tools, deployment of rapid response teams (RRT), Operationalization of the County Public Health Emergency funds, enhance execrable border coordination, establishment of case management items/isolation centres, prepositioning of laboratory provides, community advocacy and sensitization and deployment of vaccines in high danger populations.
In her closing remarks, Dr. Grace Ikahu, Director of Public Health in Kenya’s MOH observed that for profitable interruption of community transmission and containment of the outbreak “there’s pressing need for capacity building of frontline healthcare workers at national and county stages to rapidly detect and effectively answer to Mpox cases, heart of attention ought to be on integrated HIV- Mpox syndemic management and need for strengthening handy resource mobilization initiatives thru partnerships and collaborations. Advocacy and community engagement by integrating faculty health programmes will provide a wider community protection”.
Mr. Nasorro Mwanyalu, the Mombasa County Disease Surveillance coordinator celebrated that “the IAR was effectively timed as it may perhaps whisk a long way to improve their response, specifically on coordination and collaboration among counties, enhancing contact tracing, active case finding and case management whereas optimizing sample series, specimen referral and effectively timed laboratory diagnosis”
The profitable implementation of the IAR relied on technical guidance from national MOH and health sector partners from US CDC, UNICEF, Kenya Crimson Infamous, MSF, Africa CDC, AFENET, FELTP, FAO, Savannah Informatics, AMREF, GOARN, KEMRI, MTaPs. The activity was carried out thru the generous financial improve from USAID Kenya towards strengthening Mpox response in Kenya.
