Health Friday

By Collins Shahonya.

Kajiado county residents were earmarked for the Tetanus vaccine campaign slated for one week starting on 21^st to 27^th of March 2014. And in Isinya district, the sounding of the bells that the day was here, dawned well on everyone who made it to Isinya health centre.

being examined

All women aged between fourteen to nineteen years would be administered the tetanus vaccine; since women are the most vulnerable to tetanus infection especially the pastoralists community.

“Not everyone is comfortable at giving birth in our health facilities and this becomes a huge risk to all the women who give birth at home or with the assistant of community herbalists who do not conform to the rule of ‘a hundred percent hygiene’. Women therefore can easily get tetanus through cutting of the umbilical cord with unsterilized equipments!”, said one nurse who pleaded anonymity, since she is not mandated to speak on behalf of the health facility.

a lady receiving an injection

Isinya health centre recorded a huge turnout thanks to the media highlighting its importance to every Kenyan woman. By the close of the day more than 500 women had been vaccinated against the infection. Though some were nervous and could not bear the injection of the vaccine on their left deltoid muscles.

All 500⁺ women were issued with cards indicating they had been vaccinated. They were encouraged to take another injection after a period of between 6 months and one year.