Daijiworld Media Network - Nairobi

Nairobi, Aug 9: The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially certified Kenya as having eliminated human African trypanosomiasis, commonly known as sleeping sickness, as a public health problem. This makes Kenya the 10th country to achieve this significant milestone.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated Kenya on the achievement, stating it was "another step toward making Africa free of neglected tropical diseases." The certification marks the second time Kenya has eliminated a neglected tropical disease, following its successful eradication of Guinea worm disease in 2018.

Sleeping sickness is a parasitic disease spread by infected tsetse flies. It can cause fever, headaches, and joint pain, and in advanced stages, it leads to severe neurological symptoms like confusion and disturbed sleep.

Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale, hailed the WHO's validation as a historic step for the country's public health and economic growth. Kenya’s battle against the disease began in the early 20th century, with the last two exported cases reported in 2012 from the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

In recent years, the country has fortified its surveillance efforts, establishing 12 health facilities in six historically endemic counties as sentinel sites. These efforts are supported by advanced diagnostic tools and specialized training for health personnel to prevent new transmissions.

Abdourahmane Diallo, the WHO representative in Kenya, praised the country's leadership and partnerships for their crucial role in accelerating progress toward eliminating the disease.