Save the Children, led by Country Director for Kenya and Madagascar Jib Rabiltossaporn, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Turkana County’s health, nutrition, and child protection initiatives during a meeting with county officials on Thursday.
The discussions, held at the County Headquarters, addressed ongoing challenges in refugee-host community integration and the need for sustained, data-driven interventions in one of Kenya’s most vulnerable regions.
Turkana’s Deputy Governor, Dr. John Erus, welcomed the Save the Children delegation and emphasized the county’s proactive approach to addressing critical issues under Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai’s leadership.
“We are committed to filling the gaps and continuing co-creation with our partners,” Dr. Erus said, noting that Turkana has successfully cushioned communities from recent funding cuts by the American government through collaborative programs.
He highlighted the county’s efforts in translating child protection policies into action, including the provision of nutrition supplements to all Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres across Turkana.
A key concern raised during the meeting was Turkana’s alarming malaria prevalence rate of 37%, one of the highest in Kenya. Dr. Erus called for evidence-based health interventions to address this crisis, exacerbated by the emergence of a new malaria vector, with cases rising to 188 per 1,000 people.
He also underscored the county’s multi-sectoral approach, including the One Health programme, resource-sharing initiatives, and coordination of livestock support along transhumance corridors, which have bolstered resilience in the region.
On the Shirika Plan, which focuses on refugee integration, Dr. Erus highlighted the challenges posed by Turkana’s fragile ecosystem and the long-standing issue of water scarcity in Turkana West.
He revealed that the county has allocated funds for initial works on a proposed dam along the Tarach River to provide long-term water solutions for both refugees and host communities.
However, he urged partners to adopt a measured approach to integration, warning against rushed decisions driven by funding shortfalls.
Jib Rabiltossaporn, Save the Children’s Country Director, emphasized Turkana’s strategic importance due to its geographic position and unique challenges.
“Successful refugee-host integration requires close collaboration with the County Government,” she said, reaffirming Save the Children’s commitment to scaling up interventions despite funding constraints.
The organization’s ongoing work in Turkana includes strengthening health services, mentoring community health officers in child nutrition, and supporting initiatives like immunization, antenatal care, and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) programs.
Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health Janerose Tioko praised Save the Children’s contributions, particularly in improving treatment for zoonotic diseases and enhancing social services such as national ID registration.
She appealed for continued support in measles vaccination and malaria control to address the rising health challenges in the county.