County governments have been asked to champion the welfare of health workers in a bid to motivate them to serve wananchi better.
The call was made by Equity Bank Deputy CEO Polycarp Igathe while handing over Protective Personal Equipment to Trans Nzoia county government at the County Referral hospital today.
Igathe said the focus during the COVID-19 pandemic should be on doctors, nurses and other health care officers who were frontline workers in the fight against the disease.
He asked both the county government and County Assembly officials to surrender unnecessary per diems to go towards the welfare of health officials.
He said that Equity Bank Group has set aside a kitty of Sh1.1 billion to compliment and supplements efforts by both the county and national governments in the fight against coronavirus.
He said the Sh1.1 billion kitty was a personal contribution of Sh300 million from Equity Bank CEO James Mwangi, Sh300 million from Equity Group foundation shareholders and Sh 600 million from MasterCard foundation.
“We have procured Personal Protective Equipment worth Sh237 million that we are donating to 68 select health facilities in the country that are at high risk of contracting the disease,” he said.
According to the deputy CEO, another Sh400 billion would be sourced and used in the second round of the programme that would take six months.
He assured the public of the quality of the equipment which he said were recommended by doctors and health workers from the county liaison committee.
“We liaised with the Kenya Manufacturers Association and professionals to get the best qualities that were purely made in Kenya,” he said.
Governor Patrick Khaemba commended Equity Bank Group’s foundation for the gesture that would towards saving the lives of Covid-19 patients.
He said that the County Referral hospital has been partially operationalized to meet the 300 bed directive from his Excellency the President.
He however appealed to residents to support his efforts towards health care saying continued negative criticisms retarded development.
By Pauline Ikanda
