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BY LUKE KAPCHANGA DN/WEBUYE TYPHOID 9/4/2005
The outbreak of typhoid in Bungoma district which has killed three students and a villager were caused by expired chlorine used in the treatment of water.
The minister of water & Irrigation Mrs Martha Karua said on Friday that contaminated water due to expired chlorine may have been the cause of the outbreak which has affected hundreds of people in Kimilili division.
The minister admitted that officials in her ministry were found treating water at the supply system with chlorine which had expired in November last year.
"Expired chlorine was found in the stores but strict instructions have been given to stop using it immediately," She said.
Mrs Karua who was touring the affected area with trade & industry minister Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, announced the formation of a monitoring team to ensure a continous use of proper chlorine in the treatment of water at the source in Mt Elgon district.
She hinted that the ministry may take displinary action against those involved in the procurement and supply of expired chlorine.
"The ministry may be forced to take internal steps of displinary action only after consultations and investigation", she said when asked to comment on her reaction about the use of expired chlorine,
However, she said the purpose of her visit was not to pronounce the sanctions on the ministry employees who were accused of failing to perform their work .
Dr Kituyi who is the area MP demanded for the removal of the district water officer Mr Anthony Mweje for not knowing his work and just misleading the public on water treatment.
The minister is said to have told a closed door meeting at the Kimilili municipality that the water deptment in the district was in a mess as a reason for frequent outbreaks of water borne diseases.
The source from the meeting were the press was barred said the area Mp also called for the resignation of Bungoma medical offficer of health Dr Isaac Wasike for not acting fast to contain the outbreaks.
The meeting was attended by district commisioners of Bungoma Mr Joseph Irungu and Mr John Ole Serian of Mt Elgon, The Western provincial medical officer Dr Olango Onudi , Commisioner Jack Tumwa, officials from both ministries of water and health and Kimilili mayor Mr Wycliffe Tabani.
Dr Kituyi complained that information on the ground was being distorted by government agents on the extended of the outbreak and efforts being taken to contain it.
He said the figure of those who have died of typhoid is not clear due to poor record keepning or refusal by the concerned persons to put records correct.
On the side of treatment for typhoid patients the minister accused the health staffs for charging them when drugs had been supplied by the government.
He told the patients at Kimilili sub-district hospital not to pay for services or buy drugs until he will tell them to start paying.
"The government has supplied enough drugs and nobody should be asked for money , the services here are free and report anyone who will demand for money", Dr Kituyi said.
He observed that patients suffering from typhoid are being told to buy expensive drugs at near by pharmacies while at the hospital are given just painkillers.
The ministers who were visiting patients after the outbrea last month promised that the government was going to iprove on water supply systems in the area to provide clea and safe drinking water.
The disease which was fisrt reported at Moi girls Kamusinga and later Kimilili boys claimed the lives of students one in each school.
The PMO Dr Onudi dismissed reports that those who have died had reached 20 puting the number at only four.
He maintained that according to thier records those diagonised and found to be invected with the disease and later died was four ,saying other reported deaths within the affected areas was due to other causes not typhoid