This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
On June 16, 2020, Busia County made a significant move to combat the COVID-19 pandemic by purchasing 44 double crank hospital beds for its isolation ward at a cost of Ksh 5.21 million.
According to Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong, the purchase aligns with President Uhuru Kenyatta's directive for each county to have at least 300 beds to cater for COVID-19 patients.
"Today we have 44 beds, but we shall continue increasing the numbers because we have been given 30 days to have the 300 bed capacity," Governor Ojaamong said.
He emphasized that the county is still appropriating the Ksh 5 billion allocated by the National government, which will be spent after approval by the County budget committee.
Busia Chief Officer of Health Dr. Isaac Omeri noted that the region currently has only one isolation and treatment facility with a 124 bed capacity, but efforts are being made to improve the situation.
"We have converted the Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) into an isolation facility, and we are also trying to improve other rooms within Alupe hospital to accommodate more patients," Dr. Omeri said.
