Kenya's Turkana County Strengthens Disease Outbreak Response with Digital Early Warning System
Lodwar, 4 March 2026
Turkana County has trained 30 emergency response officers in a groundbreaking digital surveillance system called ADAMs, designed to detect and respond to disease outbreaks in real-time. The initiative addresses unique challenges facing Kenya’s second-largest county, which spans 77,000 square kilometres and hosts major refugee settlements at Kakuma and Kalobeyei.
Strategic Training Programme Addresses Regional Health Vulnerabilities
The specialised training programme, completed on 3 March 2026, equipped officers from the County Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Sub-County Rapid Response Teams (SCRRT) with critical skills in surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control, and risk communication [1]. The initiative was delivered through a collaboration between Turkana County Government and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which has extensive experience operating in over 40 countries globally [2]. Dr. Ameyo, Deputy Director for Medical Services, emphasised the county’s strategic vulnerability, stating that preparedness remains critical given Turkana’s geographical position bordering neighbouring countries and hosting Kakuma Refugee Camp [1].
Digital Platform Enables Real-Time Disease Surveillance
The training centred on the All Disease Outbreaks Module (ADAMs), a sophisticated digital outbreak preparedness and response tool that operates on smartphones in both online and offline modes [1]. County One Health Coordinator Kipkorir Rotich explained that the platform enables real-time data entry, visualisation, analysis, and interpretation for informed decision-making during health emergencies [1]. The system provides summarised information on linkages between confirmed, suspected, and contact cases, functioning as a self-help platform that saves time and strengthens coordination during outbreak response [1]. Dr. Karimi Muchiri from the CDC Foundation highlighted the importance of real-time, case-based data in outbreak management, describing ADAMs as an excellent tool for collecting and visualising case-based data instantaneously [1].
Train-the-Trainer Model Extends Response Capacity Across County
The 30 officers were specifically trained as Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) and are expected to cascade the knowledge and roll out the ADAMs platform to other stakeholders at the sub-county level [1]. This multiplication approach aims to build a proactive response system that can promptly identify suspected cases and institute response measures to prevent further spread across the county [1]. The strategy addresses the unique challenges posed by Turkana’s vast 77,000 square kilometre territory, pastoral community mobility, and climate change effects [1]. The CDC Foundation has previously collaborated with Turkana County Government during the 2025 cholera outbreak and measles outbreaks, demonstrating the ongoing need to strengthen monitoring systems for emerging and re-emerging diseases, including potential cross-border threats [1].