The county government of Garissa today received Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) worth Sh6.4 million from Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) to boost the war on Covid 19.
Receiving the set of 1,336 PPEs at county referral hospital isolation center, the chief officer for Health and Sanitation Abdi Shukri lauded FCDC for the donation.
The equipments were donated by the government of Switzerland through FCDC.
Shukri said the donation will greatly assist frontline workers during this time of the great uncertainty with the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic.
“At the health leadership, we feel comforted, encouraged and humbled by your outpouring generosity and support both to our frontline health care workers as well as the entire community, ” Shukri said.
“This donation will go a long way in ensuring that our health workers in the frontline in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic feel safe when discharging their duties,” he added.
The Chief officer assured the FCDC team that the donation will make the health department accomplish its planned goals and commitment in taking appropriate actions in the war against the pandemic and also address the social, economic and environmental determinants of health.
Shukri said that Covid-19 cases as at yesterday (November 18) stood at 616, while the number of reported deaths since outbreak is 17.
He said the total number of cases in home-based Isolation and care stand at 513 while discharge and recoveries remain 430 patients. The health department has tested 5790 samples during the same period.
The Chief officer said that the county has ‘adequate’ number of isolation wards at Garissa Referral Hospital, prepositioning of trained health care staff and intensive advocacy.
He cited other achievements as enhanced surveillance and screening at points of entry along borders, creation of an emergency operation center and establishment of staff green zone for Covid-19 frontline workers.
Shukri urged members of the public to strictly adhere to government protocols put in place to fight Covid-19 Pandemic.
The Chief officer was accompanied by Ibrahim Gedi, Deputy Director Preventive and Promotive Health services and response team led by Ahmed Bashey who is in charge of the Covid 19 response and isolation center.
FCDC was represented by Abdirahman Maalim.
Meanwhile, Garissa residents have been cautioned against disregarding the Covid-19 protocols among them social distancing and wearing of face masks.
Speaking during a ceremony to install newly recruited assistant chief Ahmed Mohamed Amey for Waberi West Sub-location Garissa Deputy County Commissioner Bernard Ole Kipury said the area risk losing gains made in the war against Covid-19 if they did not take the ministry of health protocols seriously.
“I want to reiterate that this disease is real and is claiming lives. The disease has no known cure for now,’ Ole Kipury said.
“The only way to defeat this disease is to wear face masks, sanitizing ones’ hands regularly, keeping social distance and washing ones’ hands with soap and running water,” he added.
By Jacob Songok
