Embu: The County Government of Embu has appealed to locals to maintain environmental and personal hygiene to curb the spread of communicable diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and malaria. County Secretary Amy Ruria emphasized that cleanliness remains the primary defense against these communicable diseases. She highlighted the importance of proper sanitation in preventing the transmission of harmful pathogens by eliminating their breeding grounds.
According to Kenya News Agency, Ms. Ruria spoke during a clean-up exercise of Embu Town and its environs organized by the Kenya Tenri Society. She pointed out that 85 percent of communicable diseases in developing countries are linked to poor hygiene, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). She emphasized that many of these diseases can be prevented through simple hygiene practices such as environmental sanitation, personal hygiene, safe food handling, and consuming safe drinking water.
Ms. Ruria urged residents to take sanitation seriously amid a heightened alert following the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda. She noted that poor sanitation and personal hygiene contribute to Ebola transmission in humans. Dr. Jim Njamiu, Director of Tenri Group of Hospitals, said the event, known as Hinokishin Day, is an annual initiative by followers of the Tenrikyo Mission in Japan and the country to clean up public areas as an expression of gratitude for good health. He mentioned that they have been conducting this exercise for the past 26 years, emphasizing that environmental cleanliness is a shared responsibility.
