The government has been challenged to focus on the creation of Covid-19 treatment centres across the country to boost the fight against the pandemic.
Speaking during a visit to the Ortum Mission Hospital in West Pokot County, Equity Group Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. James Mwangi suggested that mission hospitals be scaled up to Covid-19 treatment hospitals promising his Foundation’s support if the government adopt the idea.
Dr. Mwangi who led the Equity Group Foundation in donating personal protective equipment (PPEs) to the Mission hospital said the Foundation remained steadfast in the fight against Covid-19 in the country thus targeting 60 mission hospitals countrywide.
“The mission hospitals were set before the inception of county governments, hence require support from both the county and national governments. There are no county or mission patients. All patients deserve to get treatment in any kind of hospital,” said the CEO.
The Equity Foundation donated 100 goggles, 600 gowns, 2500 nitrile gloves,10,000 surgical masks, 1,000 head covers, 200 scrubs, 550 overalls, 100 kn95 face masks and 250 aprons.
Dr. Mwangi said the Foundation had adopted 56 county referral hospitals across the country and had maintained them with PPEs supplies for the past one year.
He said 60 mission hospitals were also under their programme and suggested that the country should think of putting up Covid-19 treatment centres.
“It will be sad for students to be trained at the hospital then end up working in other hospitals. They should be employed at the facilities to deliver the greatly needed services,” he argued, adding that the mission hospital gave them an opportunity to decentralize the funds and services and enable the locals to get medical attention.
He asked the hospital to utilize the PPEs and consult the equity group foundation in case they run short of the stock.
West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo appreciated the equity foundation for their support to the health department noting the country was grappling with Covid-19 and the donations were a great relief to the health practitioners.
He asked the Equity Foundation to consider donating an ambulance to the mission hospital for emergency services.
By Richard Muhambe
