This archive report was first published on 15 June 2020.
As local transmissions of the coronavirus surge, counties have been urged to seek as many partnerships as possible to enhance their preparedness in handling the pandemic.
Isiolo Governor Mohamed Kuti, who chairs the Council of Governors Health Committee, emphasized the need for counties to ensure mandatory screening of all visitors and intensify public sensitization campaigns to promote compliance with health protocols.
“With the disease spreading so fast locally, the responsibility now rests with the counties which should seek partnerships and do everything possible to up their game in addressing the pandemic,” said Mr Kuti.
He directed counties to comply with the government’s 300 isolation bed capacity, train as many health workers as possible, and ensure residents are well informed of the disease.
Mr Kuti lamented the lack of enough testing kits in counties, urging the government to expedite their distribution for mass testing to be rolled out.
He also expressed concern over the delay in receiving test results from Nairobi, which exposes people at quarantine centers to more suffering.
Isiolo Referral Hospital’s state-of-the-art biosafety lab, recently accredited to carry out coronavirus tests, remains non-operational due to the lack of kits and reagents.
Mr Kuti attributed the spread of the disease to the relaxation of health guidelines by many Kenyans, emphasizing the need for personal responsibility in containing the pandemic.
Isiolo has implemented measures to stem the spread of the disease, including mandatory screening, biodata collection, and sanitization booths at markets and outside the referral hospital gate.
The county has trained 523 health workers, 703 community health volunteers, 239 nurses, 51 clinical officers, and 33 lab technicians.
Isiolo has also distributed face masks, chlorine, hand sanitizers, food items, and medical supplies to flood-hit areas.
