The Equity Group Foundation has donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to the Makueni County Referral Hospital to help in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Equity Group Foundation Chief Executive Officer Reuben Mbindu said the consignment, which is meant to ensure that health workers do not contract the disease, is part of the Sh237 million donation of PPEs by the foundation to 68 hospitals across the country.
‘‘The initiative is aimed at protecting the frontline workers and ensuring that they don’t get infected when they are treating Covid 19 patients for the next 18 months,’’said Mbindu.
Speaking on Friday when he delivered the donation consisting of surgical masks, gumboots, disposable gowns and goggles to the referral hospital, the CEO disclosed that majority of the equipment had been locally sourced to promote Kenyan manufacturers and boost the economy that has been hard hit by the pandemic.
‘‘Very few equipment whose technology is not available has been imported and the idea is to promote local manufacturers to the extent that they can export to other countries,’’he said.
Mbindu called on the county administration to ensure that the PPEs are used for the purpose they are intended for and promised a steady supply of protective equipment.
‘‘This is the first batch of the PPEs and we shall partner with other stakeholders to ensure a continuous supply to protect our health workers before a vaccine is found,’’ Mbindu noted.
He called on residents to remain vigilant in the fight against the disease and reiterated the foundation’s support in enhancing health.
‘‘Our vision is to change the lives and livelihoods of Kenyans through both education and health, because without health you cannot create wealth,” he added.
Speaking when she received the donation on behalf of the county government Makueni Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau decried the exponential growth of coronavirus cases in counties after the government lifted the containment measures and urged the Council of Governors to deliberate on the possibility of locking down counties to avert the spread of the disease.
Makueni currently has 37 coronavirus cases with four of them being health workers according to County Health Executive Dr Andrew Mulwa.
By Roselyne Kavoo
