Lamu County hires 92 medics to boost healthcare

Lamu County Government has hired 92 health workers to boost capacity as the country battles Covid-19.  

Speaking during the induction ceremony at the county headquarters in Mokowe on Friday, Governor Fahim Twaha (pictured) welcomed the team, saying it will help bolster the overstretched medical department. 

"This is a matter of priority, and the new personnel will be posted to health facilities across the county with immediate effect," said the governor.  

Twaha reiterated that his government has prioritised investment in health infrastructure.  

"Health is capital intensive; over Sh700 million has consistently gone to the health sector in previous and in this financial year. In the immediate strategy, this approach is helping us procure ICU equipment for Mpeketoni and King Fahad hospitals, " said the governor.  

"In the medium-term, we plan to start upgrading Mpeketoni and King Fahd hospitals to Level 5  status before 2022," he added.  

The new health workers comprise of nurses, clinical officers, pharmacists, radiographers, laboratory technologists and community health workers under the Universal Health Care programme, bringing the total number of those hired to 150.  

Recently, the county procured 10,000 PPE, 4,000 N95 masks, 17 oxygen gas cylinders and two ventilators.