Kiambu County has achieved the 300-bed isolation centres as directed by President Uhuru Kenyatta during his Saturday Corona Virus address and is working towards raising the number to 500-beds.
The Deputy Governor (DG), Joyce Ngugi said the surging numbers of Covid-19 cases in the county had prompted the County to put up such interventions early after it was classified as a corona virus hotspot.
Speaking after distributing food donations from Capwell Industries to visually impaired persons in Thika Town on Tuesday, the DG said the surging number of cases in the county was a concern, attributing the same to close interaction of residents with Nairobi County where numbers are high.
She said hospitals targeted to be equipped with more isolation beds are Gatundu Level Five, Kiambu Level Five, Thika Level Five and Wangige health centre.
The DG also announced that they were installing ICU beds in these facilities to help patients that need special care. Additionally, they were in the process of procuring oxygen in bulk to equip the hospital.
It has also converted Tigoni Level Four Hospital to a Covid-19 isolation centre.
“When the national government was announcing this, we already had our 300 beds. By yesterday, we were doing our best by looking at areas that need expansions to make them 500 because the national government already wants to use our beds,” she said.
During his speech, the President gave the 47 counties a Sh.5 billion conditional grant to be used specifically to increase their healthcare capacity by building the necessary infrastructure to enable them to cope with the pandemic.
Out of the amount, Kiambu received Sh.185 million and has since recorded more than 60 cases.
The Thika township MCA, Andrew Kimani said the isolation units should be spread across the county ease accessibility to Covid-19 patients.
The Sh.4 million donations were given by Capwell industries, known for the manufacture of Soko Maize flour, to Kiambu County to be distributed to vulnerable groups.
By Muoki Charles
