The County Government of Uasin Gishu has affirmed its commitment to ensuring its health workers have sufficient Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), especially at this time they are leading the fight against Coronavirus pandemic.
According to the Chief Officer in the Health Services Dr Joseph Morogo, in the last three months, they have dispatched high-quality surgical face masks to health facilities twice, and also given protective gowns to all health workers taking care of Covid-19 patients in the isolation centres and those that have been going round to monitor patients who are on the Home-Based Care.
“We are in the process of dispatching PPEs for the third time. Currently, 40,000 surgical masks are being distributed to all health facilities across the county,” said Dr Morogo. The Chief Officer also noted that as a county, they have committed to providing N95 masks to 300 staff members working in high-risk areas.
He also said that they are in the process of procuring a consignment of N95 masks and extra surgical masks and other PPEs for the frontline and all the medical staff through the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KeMSA) “so that we will have enough when the current stock is depleted.”
Other measures the County Government of Uasin Gishu has taken to ensure the safety of health workers during this pandemic include deploying nursing officers who are aged 58 and above to low-risk areas. The County Government also procured a comprehensive health cover to all the staff members to supplement the NHIF cover.
“Whoever chooses to take leave is also encouraged. This will reduce their risk of exposure to Covid-19,” noted the Chief Officer. “Healthcare workers who have since tested positive have been treated and discharged at no cost. Fortunately, none of them succumbed to the illness,” he added.
In terms of medical staff promotion and career progression, the department has finalised a process of staff assessment that will lead to promotions to those who are due. “An agreement has been arrived at and very soon, the medical staff unions will sign a formal agreement that will specify the road map,” Said Edwin Bett the County Secretary.
A Covid-19 Pandemic Situation Report for The Uasin Gishu County dated October 16, 2020, prepared by the Health Department indicate that so far, the county has cumulatively collected and tested 33, 868 samples out of which 2,769 turned positive – out of which 243 health workers have tested positive – 42 of which are County Healthcare workers who have been treated for free.
The report further revealed that as a measure to mitigate Coronavirus pandemic, a training targeting all healthcare workers in public facilities has been conducted – with an aim of equipping them with knowledge and skills on how to detect and manage suspected and confirmed cases.
“So far, 749 frontline health care workers have been trained on case management with 1,097 out of the 153 staff being sensitized on Covid-19 and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC),” read part of the report.
Cumulatively, Uasin Gishu County has managed 1,946 cases, so far, out of which 412 were admitted in isolation centres – 186 in County Isolation Centers and 226 in private hospitals. 1,534 patients have been under the Home-Based Care Isolation.
As of December 16, 1,836 patients have fully recovered and discharged (360 from Health Facilities and 1,476 from Home Based Care Isolation). Currently, there are 92 active cases: 8 admitted in isolation Health Facilities and 84 under home-based care.