Kisii County has received a donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) from the Aga Khan Foundation as part of the organisation’s effort to fight against COVID-19 pandemic in Western and Nyanza Counties.
Speaking to the press during the handover ceremony held at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, Aga Khan Hospital Kisumu CEO, Jane Wanyama, said the foundation is implementing a fight against COVID-19 programme which focuses on supporting county governments health systems to respond effectively to the pandemic through the provision of PPEs, testing kits and infrastructure to train health workers on response.
“The 30-month, multi-sector programme is helping to strengthen existing health responses and increasing awareness of prevention strategies and support mechanisms, while also minimizing the socio-economic impact of the crisis among the young and vulnerable,” Wanyama said.
The CEO noted that the programme is also supporting the development of a digital online learning platform that will assist health workers to learn on COVID-19 response and management through procurement and installation of the conference equipment and desktop computers to support eHealth and Telemedicine.
“The PPEs and eHealth learning equipment valued at Sh13.5 million for the five counties in Western Region will support the counties to protect health workers and be equipped adequately to provide quality services,” added Wanyama.
The programme, funded by the European Union, is currently being implemented in Kisii, Migori, Kisumu, Bungoma and Busia Counties.
County CEC for Health, Sarah Omache, lauded the European Union and Aga Khan Foundation for supporting Kisii County saying their efforts have contributed to the development of the health sector over the years.
She also noted the county had just received four types of COVID-19 vaccines from the depot including Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer, and encouraged residents to go for vaccination.
“We are reaching out to people in markets and bus stops. We are also appealing to the media to keep encouraging people to get vaccinated,” Omache said.
The Aga Khan Foundation’s programme is responding to the acceleration of the spread of the pandemic in recent months which has seen existing health systems of countries like Kenya struggle to keep up, especially in rural areas where access to healthcare and up-to-date information on prevention is more challenging.
By Carolyne Omwamba and Wilson Robi
