MonkeyPox (Mpox) vaccines have run out in Teso North Sub County, with the exercise halted six days since the exercise started on September 3.

Addressing a public baraza convened by Amagoro Chief Joel Omachar at Kidek Village on Tuesday, Senior Community Health Officer at Teso North Sub County Referral hospital, Kocholya Mr Vincent Omukaga said the sub county had been allocated 1,500 vaccines to undertake vaccination that was rolled out at Safe Stop Malaba.

Teso North and Matayos Sub counties were among the recipients of the World Health Organization vaccines in Busia County owing to its location along the Northern Corridor. They join Mombasa and Nakuru, which are on WHO radar.

Omukaga said they have requisitioned for 3,000 additional vaccines, and we are not certain when the delivery will be made.

” The vaccination is supposed to end on September 12, but should it end without the arrival of fresh supplies of Mpox vaccines, the period will be extended,” Omukaga said.

” Mpox is here with us. The best way out of this predicament is to get vaccinated with those eligible to receive the vaccine aged 12 years and above,” he said.

Omukaga also disclosed that Epilepsy clinic is held at Kocholia Sub County Hospital on Tuesdays every week, adding that they also have a machine for screening people for sickle cell disease.

Omukaga said the Mpox vaccine is being issued free of charge, but should the current exercise end, victims of the pandemic will have to meet the cost of treatment.

Omukaga urged people in the Amagoro location to take responsibility and dig pit latrines, noting that they will start visiting various homes from next week to identify those who have remained without toilets despite notice.

Amagoro Chief Joel Omachar made a startling revelation that there are 507 households in his location without pit. latrines. He issued a two-week ultimatum to construct pit latrines or face arrest and prosecution.

He said the youth who registered for Kazi Mashinani might be disadvantaged during recruitment if they are not SHA compliant.

Omachar, who is also the Amagoro welfare patron, urged members to register enmasse, noting that they are targeting over 2,000 households, noting that thefts of goats have decreased in the area.

He announced that ferilizer registration update for those who didn’t get the codes has been reinstated with self registration through *616*3#. It was last held in 2023.

The chief told pig farmers to ensure they were put in a safe place instead of allowing them to roam at night, destroying their neighbours’ properties.

Vereran journalist Kennedy Epalat, who engages on matters security thanked area residents for standing together to oppose the transfer of the Amagoro Patrol Base that has helped reduce crime.

He urged CDF Teso North through Kenaz Odikor to prevail upon the area MP Oku Kaunya to undertake the renovation of the Patrol Base through the Emergency Fund which he had agreed to support through the Emergency Kitty.

” It’s regrettable that the Patrol Base is in perpetual darkness because of an outstanding bill of Ksh7,800, and streetlights from Amagoro to Malaba have gone without lights for over three months due to outstanding bill of Ksh88,000 owed to Kenya power by the county government of Busia. He said police in Teso North face a myriad of challenges including lack of vehicles, forcing them to seek help from the county government to transport suspects to Court.

Epalat said public participation for sensitive projects like markets should be all-inclusive and not people from one village, as was the case with the controversial Amoni Market.

Agriculture officer Getrude Wambia urged farmers to “wage war” against tobacco and instead focus on the growth of crops like beans, soya, and groundnuts, which has ready market at Mamlo Foods factory in Amagoro.

” We also have an Alfajiri factory for slaughtering pigs, goats, and chicken. She told farmers to keep pigs and not to live with them,” she said, telling farmers to look at Elvis traditional vegetables and rabbits whose market is in Nairobi already.

Community Health Supervisor Living Goods Pamela Asaji appealed to men to support their women during pregnancy and delivery journey in order to minimize child mortality rate.

Zakayo Ikaal, Level 1 CHP said they have powers to close shops or order owners to construct toilets or advise mother to take their children to the clinics and men to walk with their pregnant wives until they deliver.

Ikaal said CHP challenges with the Ministry of Health are lack of drugs all the time. MoH treatment starts at level 1.