The County Government of Uasin Gishu has directed Boda boda operators within Eldoret town Central Business District (CBD) to relocate to new external routes with immediate effect to curb the spread of COVID-19 crisis.
The notice issued by the county indicated the move was aimed at preventing the county from lockdown in case of a confirmed Coronavirus case and also to ease congestion within the town.
These stringent measures will last for 30 days following an order issued by President Uhuru Kenyatta confirming three positive coronavirus cases in the country.
The routes now designated for boda boda operators are Paul’s Bakery-Bliss Hospital – Central Bank-Unga Limited – NTSA and Sirikwa Hotel-Highlands Inn-Moi Girls.
The other route is St. Matthew’s – St. Luke’s – Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital – Sosiani Round About – Fims-Opera-Sokoni-Eagles-Huruma-Eastleigh and Kenol Kobil.
At the same time, the Uasin Gishu Governor, Jackson Mandago on Tuesday said it was now a requirement for long-distance public service vehicles to keep a record of all their travelers as this would make it easier to track all individuals should any case be reported in the area.
A spot check by KNA on the implementation of government recommendations to curb the spread of the disease showed that most supermarkets had placed handwashing facilities at their entrance with liquid soap to enable their customers to wash their hands before entry as well as when exiting the supermarket.
There was also water and soap placed at strategic places in the markets as well as all health facilities. Public service operators at the main stage also provided water and soap to their customers.
However most town service public service vehicles were yet to comply with the advisory.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) has decried the lack of training for health workers by the government on personal protective measures that the practitioners should take when handling Covid-19 suspected cases.
Speaking during a media brief in Nairobi, the General Secretary of KUCO, George Maroah called on both the Ministry of Health and County Governments to prioritize training of all health workers.
“The government in collaboration with the ministry of health should put up centers where health workers across the country will be trained on how to handle themselves and suspected victims to control the spread of coronavirus,” said Maroah.
Maroah further urged the government to provide accommodation facilities for health workers working in isolation facilities for the emergency period of the outbreak to avoid spreading infection to their families in case they contract the virus.
He also urged the government to employ more clinical officers to ease shortages in readiness for the pandemic and advised health workers in hospitals to separate cough and flu patients to minimize the spread of the virus.
The Chairperson of KUCO, Peterson Wachira called upon members of the public to observe the measures the government and the ministry of health has spelt out on managing corona virus and appreciate that the public has the greatest role in slowing the spread of the virus.
“This is not the time to doubt the directives from the Ministry of Health; mitigation of any outbreak must have an understanding of all of us; we therefore need to work in unison as a country to defeat this virus,” said Wachira.
Wachira advised the public to avoid purchase and use of face masks without advice from health workers as this will exhaust the available stocks.
“We must realize that stockpiling sanitizers and masks at home while denying our neighbours supplies to the same defeats the purpose as prevention is communal in as much as it is personal, “added Wachira.
KUCO has instructed its branch officials to work with the Ministry of Health and County health staff to ensure that there are standard operating procedures on processing of suspected cases and also ensure that quarantine and isolation facilities are available, accessible and well equipped to receive suspected cases.
By KNA TEAM
