The Ministry of Health (MoH) has confirmed one death from Mpox, with a total of 13 cases recorded since the virus was first identified in the country.
Health Director General Patrick Amoth announced on Monday that the patient who passed away had underlying health conditions, which contributed to the fatal outcome.
Amoth reported that out of the 13 cases, eight patients have recovered and been discharged, while four remain hospitalized.
These cases were confirmed after testing 236 samples from across 10 counties.
The update came as the Ministry received a donation from the World Health Organization (WHO) of 15.2 million tablets for treating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), valued at $1.6 million (sh.213 million).
Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Debra Barasa expressed appreciation for the donation, emphasizing its significance in controlling NTDs across the country.
CS Barasa noted that the tablets would be utilized to combat three specific endemic NTDs: lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted helminths, and schistosomiasis.
These diseases are part of a targeted elimination campaign scheduled to be completed by 2027.
She outlined that the next mass drug administration effort will focus on 15 counties with high infection rates, specifically in the Coastal region, Lake Victoria Basin, and Western Region.
During her address, Barasa highlighted the essential role of community health promoters in implementing the campaign effectively in these areas.
Additionally, she instructed health teams to register all household members encountered during the campaign for the Social Health Insurance Fund, which aims to provide affordable healthcare access as part of the Universal Health Programme.