Cases of diarrheal diseases have dropped drastically within Nakuru County due to the introduction of proper handwashing habits among residents. 

Louise Nyakang’o, a microbiologist from the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Nakuru said the Covid-19 pandemic had brought about a change in culture on how people handled hygiene. 

Speaking while marking the World Hygiene Day, Nyakang’o said handwashing had the power to address communicable diseases saying many had abandoned it. 

“We have seen a drastic decline in the number of diarrheal diseases during the Covid-19 period meaning that the handwashing has really worked,” said Nyakang’o. 

She noted that eateries were major spreaders of communicable diseases insisting there was a need to sensitize them on frequent handwashing habits.  

Apart from diarrheal cases, Nyakang’o said poor sanitation has always contributed to the spread of other diseases including; cholera, dysentery, diarrhea and typhoid. 

She noted that according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) data in 2018 diarrheal diseases, deaths in Kenya stood at 14 per cent of total deaths. 

“Eateries need to observe the highest levels of sanitation to ensure they do not endanger the lives of their customers, right from food preparation to serving we should be very careful,” she added. 

Yesterday, Nyakang’o led several KMTC students to sensitise food eateries owners and managers on the importance of hygiene.