Covid-19: Boost for Homa Bay medics as county purchases Sh3.8m PPEs

Homa Bay county director of medical services Gordon Okomo (in black T-shirt) explains functions of personal protective equipment at the county headquarters in Homa Bay town. [James Omoro, Standard]

Homa Bay County government has purchased Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worth Sh3.8 million for the county’s medics in fighting coronavirus infections.

The county has also received two ambulances from development partners to bolster the fight against the spread of the virus.

The PPE include headgears, disposable gowns, thermometer guns, face masks, gloves, hand washing gel, among other equipment used for handling a coronavirus patient.

Homa Bay county director of Medical Services Gordon Okomo, disaster management director Eliud Onyango, Finance Chief Officer Noah Otieno and director of procurement Samson Okumu presided over the distribution of the equipment to various health facilities in the county yesterday.

The equipment were distributed to Malela Covid-19 isolation centre, Homa Bay County Referral hospital and eight sub county hospitals.

He said the equipment will boost health workers’ confidence while handling Covid-19 patients besides enhancing their safety.

“These equipment will enable our health workers to perform their duties in a manner that protects them from contracting coronavirus,” said Okomo.

He said the two new ambulances will augment response in the fight against the disease.

“These ambulances have facilities for supporting life hence they are convenient for patients whose lives are in danger,” said Okomo.

The move will be good news for health workers who have been operating without the vital equipment while dealing with suspected cases of Coronavirus.

Onyango told health workers to take care of the equipment, so that they can serve the purpose for which they were acquired.

“We expect health workers to handle the equipment carefully and ensure they are not stolen,” Onyango said.

He said the county under the leadership of Governor Cyprian Awiti had formed a select committee on Covid-19 to spearhead fight against the virus.

Onyango said the county had formed a hotline [phone] where people can call whenever they come across anybody with signs and symptoms of covid-19.

“The hotline is dialed free of charge. Let residents make use of it,” he said.

The director said they were undertaking a number of preventive measures against fight Covid -19 even though the county has not experienced any case.

“One of the measures includes distribution of sanitisers to boda boda riders,” he said.