Current efforts to contain the spread of novel Covid-19 virus in Vihiga County received a boost following donation of medical equipment from Crown Healthcare Limited in partnership with the Council of Governors (CoG).
Addressing members of press on Wednesday, Dr. Amos Kutwa, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health confirmed the county had received two Oxygen Concentrators, four Infrared Thermometers and two Finger Temperature Pulse Oximeters from the pharmaceuticals company.
“We have received medical equipment donation from Crown Health Company through the Council of Governors (CoG). The equipment includes, two oxygen concentrators, and four infrared thermometers,” revealed Kutwa.
Dr. Kutwa, who received the donation on behalf of Vihiga County Emergency Response Committee (VICEREC), thanked Crown Healthcare, noting the gesture was a timely boost to the county’s containment efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Crown Healthcare is a leading provider of pharmaceuticals, medical and laboratory equipment solutions within Eastern African Region, with branches in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Nigeria.
“As a responsible corporate citizen, Crown Healthcare is desirous in enhancing the capacity of the counties to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak by making donations of 86 oxygen concentrators, 172 infra-red thermometers and 86 pulse oximeters,” read part of the note attached to the consignment signed by the company’s Managing Director Mr. Shilen Thakerar.
Meanwhile, Vihiga County has recorded the first Covid-19 positive case.
Speaking to Kenya News Agency (KNA) Thursday morning, Vihiga Deputy County Commission (DCC) Mr. Abdi Fatah confirmed the victim was an inmate at Vihiga Prisons.
The case was detected following random testing conducted on Tuesday by prison authorities before samples were taken to Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in Kisumu.
“The results of samples received on Wednesday from KEMRI established one of the inmates at the facility was Covid-19 positive,” disclosed Fatah.
The DCC further confirmed the affected inmate, a resident of Eluhobe village in Ematsuli sub location of Luanda Sub County, was taken to Isolation Unit at Vihiga County Teaching and Referral Hospital (VCTRH) while other four inmates who were in contact with the victim have been put under quarantine at the prison facility.
“Contact tracing is currently on to find out individuals who were with them at Luanda police where the five suspects were first held,” the DCC who is in charge of the County Covid-19 Command Centre said.
By Maurice Aluda
