Leaders within Othaya Sub-county of Nyeri have been asked to stop politicising the issue of transfer of medical equipment from the newly opened Kenyatta National Hospital-Othaya Annex to KNH Nairobi.
Area Deputy County Commissioner, Henry Ochako, faulted politicians who have been going round telling their supporters that some of the equipment meant for the Level 6 facility had been moved to KNH Nairobi, saying they were arguing from a point of ignorance.
He said a lot of equipment was deployed to the facility, which is still in the infancy stage hence it was deemed unnecessary to retain those not in use for lack of personnel to operate them when they could be useful at the mother facility.
“We appeal to our leaders to get the facts right to understand why the equipment is being transferred and for what reason,” said the DCC, adding that the hospital management means well and wants to offer the best services to the people.
He was speaking on Tuesday when Equity Bank donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for use by the medical team at the facility as part of the Covid-19 fund by the national government where the bank has been entrusted to make deliveries.
The hospital has set aside a 50-bed isolation and treatment ward for Covid-19 patients.
The KNH Othaya Annexe Hospital Director, Dr. Peter Muiruri dismissed the claims, saying there was no medical device in use at the facility that was shifted.
“There is no equipment which would be needed in this hospital right now that moved to Nairobi,” clarified the Director.
He said what was moved were a few donations for the pediatric ICU which had not been established at the facility.
“Pediatric ICU is a very highly specialised area and we have not started offering those services here,” Dr. Muiruri said.
He said the equipment was transferred when KNH was given the mandate to put up an Infectious Disease Unit (IDU) at Mbagathi Hospital, and the need arose for a pediatric ICU to take care of children infected with Covid-19.
The director said once the facility establishes their own unit, the equipment will be brought back.
The Equity Bank, Othaya Branch Manager, Shen Gikonyo said the financial institution was committed to ensure that frontline health workers were protected to ensure they don’t contract the disease in the line of duty.
“We recognize and appreciate the work being done by frontline healthcare workers of safeguarding the lives of Kenyans and there’s need to ensure they are properly protected,” said the Manager.
He appealed to more stakeholders to come on board in the fight against the contagion even as he urged Kenyans to continue observing the health guidelines set by the Ministry of Health on crowd control, social distancing, hand sanitization and wearing of masks.
By Samuel Waititu/Beth Ndirangu
