The UN has set aside Ksh2 million to purchase Personal Protective Equipment’s (PPES) to protect community health volunteers while they are discharging their services
By Albert Lemomo
The National Government through the Ministry of Devolution, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands on June 1, received a boost in its effort to fight Coronavirus after the United Nations seconded 50 health volunteers across 14 counties that are deemed to be vulnerable to Covid-19 pandemic.
While commissioning the volunteers in Kajiado County, the United Nations Resident Coordinator Siddhartha Chatterjee noted that the war against Covid-19 requires a combined and coordinated strategy.
“This crisis can only be solved through partnerships and we stand with the Government of Kenya in its effort to battle the pandemic and as an organization we are a key ally of Kenya as a development partner. Therefore, it is prudent for us to ensure that we offer support to the Government and its people to fight Covid-19 in the Country,” reiterated Chatterjee.
He said the UN as a development partner to the Government will ensure Kenyans are protected and 50 health volunteers including Pharmacists, Registered Nurses, Laboratory Technologists, Nursing officers and Public health officials were being commissioned to support in war against Coronavirus.
The UN Coordinator revealed that the organization had set aside Ksh2 million to purchase enough supply of Personal Protective Equipment’s (PPES) to protect the volunteers at all time while they are discharging their services.
Ministry of Devolution and ASALS Chief Administrative Secretary Abdul Bahari noted that the country has been facing challenges in various sectors whereby massive resources have already been allocated.
He lauded the UN for partnering with the Government in addressing the war on Covid-19. “We cannot manage alone without the support from other stakeholders,” said Bahari.
The CAS called for concerted efforts in tackling Covid-19 within border counties and especially those with high number of infections arguing that to win the war requires strategic interventions that addresses real issues on the ground.
“We have identified 14 counties that are going to benefit from the UN Health volunteers who are vulnerable to Covid-19 due to proximity of counties to areas that are reporting high cases of infections as well as border Counties which act as major transit corridors to build their resilience and enhance their response to the pandemic as well as complementing the counties human resource capacity,” the CAS said.
RELATED STORY
Classify us as vulnerable, says community health volunteers
In his remarks, Governor Joseph Ole Lenku, said the County government is up scaling the required 300 bed capacity isolation center for Covid-19 patients due rising number of infections which has been occasioned by truckers entering Kenya through Namanga and Loitoktok border towns.
“Kajiado has an almost 700 kilo meters border line with Tanzania whereby truck drivers use to gain access to Kenya and on the other side we are bordering Nairobi County that has got the highest number of positive cases. Therefore, we have set aside the Ngong, Ngatataek and Loitokitok KMTC facilities as Covid-19 isolation centers,” said Lenku.
He added that the County is working on a target of 700 bed capacity to be able to accommodate the rising numbers which will be achieved as vocational training colleges are in the process of making 400 more beds.
The program is estimated to cost Ksh53.5 million with a possibility of extension subject to availability of funding as well as the containment of the disease.
The Counties to benefit include Busia, Garissa, Kajiado, Kakamega, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kisumu, Machakos, Mandera, Migori, Nairobi, Uasin Gishu, Wajir and Tana River.
