NGPU November 18, 2022

Nakuru Launches County Infection Prevention Control Advisory Committee Action Plan

Written by Ruth Magak

Nakuru has launched the first County Infection Prevention and Control Advisory Committee(CIPCAC) Action Plan. Infection Prevention and controls-IPC in healthcare settings and the Community remains a crucial and critical quality standard for a well-functioning health system.

The Department of Health partnered with Medicines, Technologies, and Pharmaceutical Services- MTaPS, a USAID-funded program to conduct a baseline assessment in at least 30 Health facilities in the County to inform this Action Plan.

Only 11.2% of Healthcare workers had been trained on IPC, and the health facilities did not have IPC Focal persons. After the baseline assessment, the County trained Healthcare workers, cleaners and support staff on IPC. The Department has also prepared a team of IPC Champions this week from different groups including 40 heads of learning institutions and 40 religious leaders.

IPC has brought about an improved quality of care in the facilities with all health facilities having Handwashing stations and wall-fixed sanitisers also help in IPC. The Department has also budgeted for and improved the supply of critical IPC products.

The Ag. CECM Health Ms Jackline Osoro said the CIPCAC would help leverage capacity built in model sites to advance IPC in all healthcare settings. She noted that the focus should now be to actualize the Occupational Health And Safety- OSHA Act.

“I am happy that Nakuru County has been very positive to take up this model and own the project implementation as we celebrate the successes of the first phase of implementation of the project,” said Ms Odhiambo, an IPC Technical Officer from the Ministry of Health.

County Director for Public Health Services, Ms Elizabeth Kiptoo said the Department will bring on board and train health practitioners in private health facilities towards a common goal, “A healthy County”.

Also present was the Ag. Chief Officer for Public Health, Dr Daniel Wainaina, County Director for Administration and Planning, Dr Joy Mugambi, County Chief Nursing Officer, Ms Virginia Njenga and the County IPC Coordinator Ms Judy Abong’o.