3 million children in Kenya at risk of Lead poisoning
About three million children in Kenya are exposed to lead poisoning, with research showing most of those affected having challenges in school.
According to a UNICEF survey done in 2020, the children, mostly from areas near factories that pollute the air, there is an urgent need for authorities to take immediate action to save the numbers that may be increasing.
However, the government has put in place a number of interventions that include tightening the law, to safeguard employees working in lead producing factories from the effects.
Consequently, research shows the amounts of lead in the air or in factories, is contributing to the increasing numbers of pressure related ailments.
Public Health and Professional Standards Principal SecretaryMary Muthoni now says the government has taken note of the worrying trend, as well as the interventions this far, as she insists on closer scrutiny of lead producing institutions that were not adhering to the laid down procedures, and targeting them for closure
This, she says will be done through a multi ministerial approach, considering the ministry of environment was engaged in a crackdown on polluters.
