The Pharmacy section at the Uasin Gishu district hospital has been closed after four members of staff tested positive for Covid-19.
Panic and anxiety gripped the health facility located within the Eldoret town CBD when over 138 medical staff abandoned their duty stations when it emerged that no action had been taken to take the victims to isolation centres.
However, the County Chief Executive in charge of Health, Everlyne Rotich said the claims were not true, adding due diligence has been taken in handling health personnel who tested positive and asked those claiming that some nurses have not been quarantined despite turning positive to provide identification details instead of making allegations.
“It will help if they can provide the names of those they claimed are Covid-19 positive and have not been quarantined, as soon as they give the names necessary action will be taken,” said the CEC on phone.
Staff who talked to the press requesting anonymity said it was unfortunate the four who tested positive for the Corona virus were still walking free at the hospital compound instead of quarantined as measure to minimize chances of spreading the highly contagious disease.
One of the health staff members, Isaac Tallam said some of the affected staff were still attending to patients despite having tested positive for the virus whose positive cases in the county were steadily increasing.
“Some of the staff work in the maternity wing and their continued interaction with patients will compromise their safety and that of the unborn children,” he expressed fear, adding that the county government has not taken any action to make sure the affected are taken to quarantine centres causing a lot of confusion among staff.
A section of the staff vowed to down their tools until the county addresses the matter fearing for their safety and that of patients visiting the facility for healthcare services.
“We attend to over 400 expectant mothers daily at the maternity where each day at least four babies are delivered,” said Beatrice Wambui.
She claimed they lack the necessary personal protective equipment despite the fact that they play a critical role as frontline soldiers.
Wambui said the pregnant women that they attend to normally have low immune system and it becomes tricky during this era of Covid-19 pandemic.
She said that despite offering essential service, they lack personal protective equipment and that their efforts to be provided with the same from the county and national government have fallen on deaf ears.
By Kiptanui Cherono
