EFFORTS TOWARDS A HEALTHY FORCE

Senior Commanding Officers from across the Kenya Defence Force services today, 25 April 2023 converged at the Humanitarian Peace Support School in Embakasi, to brainstorm on their roles in diseases prevention in their areas of jurisdiction.

Under the theme “Commanders’ role in disease prevention” the team deliberated on quality health promotions and disease prevention through population based interventions, including radical action plans to address social determinants and health inequity, aimed at breaching the burden of diseases and associated risks within the Force.

Members were taken through an overview of causes of both communicable and non communicable diseases, alcohol, drugs and substance abuse, mental health challenges in patients with chronic diseases as well as HIV/AIDS prevalent status within the Kenya Defence Forces. The members were tasked to draft a whole raft of strategies and counter_strategies in combating the spread of the pandemics.

In his opening speech, General Officer Commanding Eastern Command, Major General Juma Mwinyikai observed that current emerging and re emerging diseases have threatened economies, health and securities of nations thus, the need for commanders at all levels to be bequeathed with knowledge, expertise and competencies to handle such vices.

“Pandemics and epidemics are in a way wars that every commander must be ready to combat by understanding and responding to in time so as to sustain fighting strength.” He said.

He further noted that command involvement in health security is important as they deploy and discharge their roles,duties and responsibilities towards health and welfare of troops in operations and peace locations.

The two day seminar is aimed at putting forward resolutions and workable parameters in dealing with emerging vices in the Kenya Defence Force.