“KAKAMEGA STUDENTS IN CHINA SAFE,” OPARANYA ASSURES.

Students from Kakamega County who are studying in China are safe, H.E. Governor Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya has said. The Governor noted that the 38 students who are studying at Shangai University are doing well.

“I was worried of their well being when Covid-19 started but i have received an assurance from them that they have not been affected by the virus,” the governor said adding that the students also said they have not been affected by the recent racial attacks against Africans in China as reported by a section of the media.

The county government sponsors needy and bright students from Kakamega county to study in the China based university following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Kakamega County Government and Shanghai University.

The County boss was speaking Tuesday afternoon during a courtesy visit by Prof. Solomon Shibairo, the new Ag. Vice Chancellor of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), at the County headquarters.

“We are also in the process of acquiring ventilators as we fight this virus and the County Response Team is working around the clock to ensure we are well prepared,” he said, in the meeting that was also attended by the Kakamega CECM for Health services Rachel Okumu and MMUST senior management officials.

He noted that once Kakamega County Referral Hospital hospital is complete, it will partner with MMUST Medical School for training and response to specialized medical services.

The Governor appointed Prof. John Okoth of MMUST to chair the multi-sectoral response team against Covid-19. “Prof Okoth will chair the team to bring on board expertise knowledge to ensure everything is done well. We should fight this virus together as one people,” said governor Oparanya.

Prof Shibairo highlighted some of the progress the institution has made in the fight against Covid-19 including manufacture of locally made hand sanitizers and soap.
“We are producing soap and sanitizers for local use and we ask for collaboration from the county government in this battle,” he said adding that the institution will provide personnel and expertise knowledge to the county government in the fight against Corona virus.

H.E. Governor Oparanya congratulated him (VC) for his appointment and assured him of partnership and collaboration in among others; the fight against Covid-19, transforming the university, establishing a medical school and sponsoring medical students at the institution.

In the fight against Covid-19 pandemic, MMUST will also be offering online mapping of people in the county and training more health workers, community volunteers and the community at large. The institution will also be used as a quarantine and isolation facility.