This archive report was first published on 24 June 2020.
On June 23, 2020, Mandera Governor Ali Roba held a press conference in Mandera town to address the county's Covid-19 response efforts.
Mr. Roba expressed concern that the Ministry of Health and the National Treasury had yet to disburse Sh1.5 billion allocated to the Coast General Hospital, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kitui Referral Hospital, and Mandera to combat Covid-19 through a supplementary budget.
He also noted that his administration had yet to receive part of Sh850 million allocated to Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa, and Mandera counties for livelihoods support programs.
According to Mr. Roba, the funds are crucial in preparing the counties for the peak season of the disease, predicted by the Ministry of Health to be in August and September.
He emphasized that the pandemic poses a significant burden to counties that were among the first to report index cases of the virus.
However, Mr. Roba expressed satisfaction with the measures put in place by his administration, citing the successful discharge of 17 patients out of 18 who had tested positive after turning negative.
He also highlighted the county's efforts in screening, with 729 people tested, 97,502 screened at entry and exit points, and 334 quarantined.
Mr. Roba attributed the county's success to preparedness, resource mobilization, planning, and rapid interventions.
He urged locals to maintain measures to curb the disease, including regular handwashing, wearing masks in public places, and maintaining social distancing, due to the risks of the disease spreading through travelers and porous borders with Somalia and Ethiopia.
Mr. Roba also emphasized the importance of not stigmatizing patients and encouraged locals not to fear being tested for Covid-19.
He criticized the long periods taken to receive results of samples, citing an instance where results from tests taken to Nairobi on June 19 were yet to be received five days later.
Mr. Roba advocated for the establishment of a testing centre in Mandera County, which borders Somalia and Ethiopia, and highlighted the county's progress in preparing 300 hospital beds for Covid-19 patients, with 190 beds already in place and plans to procure the remaining 110.
