This archive report was first published on 2 July 2020.
Public Hospitals Receive Locally Manufactured PPEs Worth Ksh. 3.2 Million ¶
On July 2, 2020, the Kenya COVID-19 Fund Board, in partnership with Equity Group Foundation, embarked on the distribution of locally manufactured PPEs to public hospitals for use by healthcare workers dealing with COVID-19 patients.
The Ministry of Health has identified 68 public hospitals that will receive PPEs for up to 18 months.
On the first day of distribution, Kenyatta National Hospital and Mbagathi Hospital Infectious Diseases Unit received locally manufactured PPEs valued at Ksh. 3,191,370.
The consignment included disposable gowns, surgical masks, N95 respirator masks, nitrile gloves, head/hair covers, shoe covers, and gumboots.
Speaking during the handover of the PPEs, Chairperson of the Kenya COVID-19 Fund Board Mrs. Jane Karuku, assured that the funds received at the Board were being well utilized through a governance structure that includes independent auditors.
Dr. James Mwangi, who Chairs the Health Committee of the Kenya COVID-19 Fund Board, said: “We are very delighted to witness the last mile delivery of the PPEs to the public hospitals for use by our health care workers. We can now say with fulfilment that the medical supplies value chain is taking shape.”
Dr. Mwangi also announced that the COVID-19 Fund Board through the Health Committee has embarked on the process of procuring the second batch of PPEs worth Ksh 400Million.
Prof. Isaac Macharia, the technical lead on the Health Committee of the COVID-19 Fund Board, commended the various medical professional associations who have teamed up to facilitate psychosocial and case management training for over 50,000 health care workers dealing with COVID-19.
While receiving the consignment, Kenyatta National Hospital CEO Dr. Evanson Kamuri, noted that the PPEs will go a long way in protecting frontline workers that are providing medical support to COVID-19 patients at the two hospitals.
Dr. Kamuri also emphasized the importance of developing local manufacturing capacity for PPEs to meet the current and future demands of the crisis.
