Garissa County Secretary (CS) Abdi Sheikh today voiced alarm over the upsurge in Covid-19 cases in the county revealing that so far three residents have succumbed to the virus while 94 have contracted it.
Abdi said the 94 positive cases are currently under medical support within Garissa County referral centers.
The county secretary was speaking in Garissa during the launch of a partnership between Care Emergency Response to Covid-19 and the Kenya Livestock Market System Activities.
The CS said the response team attended to 920 alerts adding that plans to have an oxygen refilling plant at the County referral facility was in progress following the demand to have constant availability of oxygen to support the patients.
“Right now we are in partnership with G4s to ensure our cylinders of oxygen are filled and readily available,” Abdi said.
He however warned members of the public who are still in denial and with relaxed attitude towards observing the well-articulated ministry of health protocols that the disease is real and claiming lives.
Abdi said the county and the national Government together with partner organizations were ramping-up efforts to rein in on the spread of Covid-19 by creating public awareness, establishing handwashing stations, donating facemasks and sanitizers in the highly frequented centers such as livestock market, business centers and both public and private institutions in all sub counties.
The CS thanked Care – Emergency Response to Covid-19 project and the Kenya Livestock Market System Activity that consist of USAID, Mercy Corps, Boma project, Smart Regional consultants and ACDI VOCA for their commitment and partnership with the County to curb the spread of the deadly virus
Present were Agriculture CEC Mohamed Shale, Chief officer Health Abdi Shukri, Director for special programs Abdinur Ole Hussein and Director for Donor coordination and partnership Mohamed Sahal.
The CARE – Emergency Response team was represented by the team manager Sam Ombeki and team leader Dima Bonaya.
The officials from the organizations and the county team later went to the Livestock Market to donate masks and sanitizers on the market day.
By Jacob Songok
