COUNTY RECEIVES PPEs FROM KENYA COVID-19 FUND

To support the efforts of the healthcare frontline workers in the fight against Coronavirus 2019 in Kakamega County, the Kenya Covid-19 Fund Board in partnership with Equity Group Foundation Tuesday delivered Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to the government.

While receiving the first batch of the PPEs on behalf of the Governor H.E FCPA Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, at the Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital ground, Deputy Governor who is also the Chairman of the County Covid-19 Resource Mobilization Committee H.E. Prof Philip Museve Kutima expressed his gratitude to the Equity Group Foundation terming the donation a great boost to the county in managing the pandemic. “We have already met the 300 bed capacity threshold, our Covid-19 healthcare frontliners are well trained and from such partnerships, we can gladly announce that as a county we are well prepared to fight this pandemic,” he asserted.

The Deputy Governor added that through partnership with the National Government, Kakamega has set up 8 screening points at all main entry points into the county.

He said that the Shs262 million received from the National Government as a conditional grant is yet to be utilised adding that the money will be used for purchase of PPEs and other essential materials for residents and the frontline health workers.

“We have utilized part of the Shs 105 million we allocated as a county for purchase of PPEs, sensitization and staff trainings among other programmes and due to the lengthy procurement procedures and uncertainties on when this pandemic will stay in the community, we have to be cautious with how we spend the rest of the monies,” he explained.

Kakamega county has so far recorded 39 Covid-19 cases, 35 being community transmitted with only 4 transported.

Chief Commercial Officer Equity Bank Group Hon Polycarp Igathe, on behalf of the Group’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. James Mwangi, said Kakamega is among 68 health facilities across the country that will be benefitting from the bank’s donation through the Kenya Covid-19 Fund Board.

“As Equity Bank family we have collectively raised Shs 1.1 billion that will go towards kitting our frontline workers in this fight against Coronavirus,” he said.

Mr. Igathe said the foundation’s collaboration with the National and County Governments will see selected Level 5 health facilities across the country supplied with essential PPEs such as gumboots, KN95 masks, surgical masks, face shields, disinfectants, digital tracing machines and gloves among others.

In addition to healthcare, Equity Bank Foundation also offers education scholarships, entrepreneurships as well as Food and agricultural trainings to communities as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Newly appointed CECM for Health Services Dr. Collins Matemba, on his inaugural assignment, said the County has devised a proper surveillance and contact tracing system for Covid-19 suspects and encouraged residents to excercise self discipline in combating Covid-19 by adhehering to all the protocols outlined by the Ministry of Health.

The event was also attended by County Commissioner madam Pauline Dola, Members of County Assembly led by the host MCA Hon David Ikunza and Chair Health Committee Hon Lucas Radoli, County Secretary and Head of Public Service madam Jacinta Aluoch Odhiambo, CO Health Projects Dr Brenda Makokha, Equity Bank Regional Manager Mr George Onyinno together with his Kakamega Branch Manager Mr Peter Akoyo, county health staff led by Medsup Victor Zimbulu among other senior government officers.