COVID-19: Ojaamong says truck drivers overstretching facilities, calls for national government support

Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong now says the national government should step in and aid the devolved unit in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Busia County has so far tested 4, 489 people for COVID-19, of which 4, 021 are truck drivers from the East Africa Community partner states.

The Governor argued that the border County is bearing the regional blunt in that all the 36 confirmed cases under management are of truck drivers on transit.

“Only two are residents of Busia County while the rest are from other counties and neighbouring Uganda and DR Congo,” he stated.

The national government has set up a mobile testing centre at the Malaba and Busia border points targetting truck drivers.

The Governor today told journalists that the Alupe Isolation and Treatment Centre is already overstretched by the rising numbers.

“We require urgent funding towards the purchase of personal protective equipment, drugs, food and other items,” pleaded the Governor.

He said his administration has identified 28 schools to serve as isolation in treatment centres but has no equipment to set up.

Mr Ojaamong at the same time called on Uganda to adhere to the World Health Organization guidelines on COVID-19 management where cases are managed at the point of the test.

“Ugandan authorities are deporting and dumping all Kenyans confirmed positive in tests carried out in Uganda,” he regretted.