Most counties not ready to handle surge of virus cases

As President Uhuru Kenyatta convenes an extra-ordinary meeting for national and county governments tomorrow to review the effectiveness of coronavirus containment measures, a spot check by The Standard has revealed that most counties may not have the facilities on time.

Nakuru has 10 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds set aside for management of Covid-19 positive patients, in addition to three HDU beds. 

County Public Health Chief Officer Samuel King’ori said the ICU beds are at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital, with two at Naivasha.

There are also 40 ventilators in case Covid-19 patients require breathing assistance. All the ventilators are stationed at the Nakuru Level Five Facility.

To enhance testing for Covid-19, plans are underway to install current TB gene expert machines with cartridges. Currently, samples are extracted at Naivasha, PGH and Mahi Mahiu and sent to Kemri in Nairobi for tests. 

Currently, there are 175 isolation beds distributed across respective hospitals namely Nakuru Level Five, Gilgil, Naivasha, Annex, Langa Langa Health Center and Molo.

Baringo County has 10 ICU beds and 120 isolation beds to handle Covid-19 patients in case there is an upsurge.

County Public Health Chief Officer Dr Winnie Bore said plans are underway to increase isolation beds.

Currently, isolation beds are at Kaptimbor (10), Eldama Ravine AIC (8) and Mogotio (73). 

“We are setting up more beds at Mogotio and other facilities,” said Dr Bore.

There are also four ventilators at Kabarnet County Hospital. In addition, at least 1,000 health care workers out of 1,300 have been trained on coronavirus.

Since the pandemic was reported in the country in March, at least 40 people have been tested for Covid-19 in Baringo and the tests turned negative.

Bomet County, according to Health CEC Joseph Sitonik, has nine ICU beds and five HDUs with 95 beds in isolation wards. 

At Kericho County Hospital, Governor Paul Chepkwony administration has prepared six ICU beds complete with ventilators in preparation to curb the spread of Covid-19.

According to information by the County Covid-19 Surveillance team, three additional ventilators are at Kapkatet Sub-county Hospital in Bureti constituency.

According to the report, there are 107 isolation beds both in public and private hospitals in the county.

In case the disease strikes a blow in the county, Ainamoi Sub-county Hospital will provide an additional 30 beds while the private health facilities will provide 70 beds.

“As the governor of Kericho, I want to give my assurance that we remain committed to ensuring all our medical staff are adequately protected as they carry out their duties,” said Chepkwony.

He said his administration supports the provision of the Covid-19 allowances for all the staff in the health sector to boost their morale.

[Stories by Julius Chepkwony, Mercy Kahenda, Gilbert Kimutai and Nikko Tanui]