Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has asked the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) to fast track its efforts in stocking and supplying Covid-19 management drugs to counties.
According to the governor, KEMSA is yet to enlist the most important drugs to its supplies and county governments are struggling to access them therefore transferring the burden to the patient’s family.
“There are certain drugs that are specifically used in the management of Covid-19 and KEMSA has not stocked them meaning that even counties with the purchasing capability cannot access them, “said Kahiga.
Speaking as he flagged off two state-of-the-art ambulances, the governor said that the Covid-19 situation in the county was still dire and that local hospitals were still struggling to meet their oxygen needs.
“Our biggest challenge is the need for oxygen which we continue to generate in Mt. Kenya and Nyeri hospitals. We are mainly relying on the oxygen from the British Oxygen company (BOC)”, said the governor.
On infections, the governor said, “We are still in the red. Most of our Covid-19 treatment facilities are full and it is important for us to remind Nyeri residents to protect themselves by strictly following the protocols by the Ministry of Health.”
During the function, the governor also announced the county’s plans to set up another isolation and treatment centre in Othaya sub-county.
The ambulances which the county boss referred to as “mini ICU’s”, were bought at a cost of Sh19 million. They come fitted with a nebulizing machine and two oxygen cylinders.
Already the county’s health department has assigned two nurses to each of the ambulances which will be stationed in Mt. Kenya and the Nyeri General Hospital.
Kahiga said that plans were underway to purchase two more ambulances as they try to face out the 14 old ambulances that are currently in use.
By Esther Mwangi
