Lamu county does not have a single functional ICU facility even as the country continues to grapple with rising cases of coronavirus.
All hospitals in Lamu also lack specialised ICU beds raising concern over the preparedness of the region in handling Covid-19 patients.
Lamu is among the few counties that are yet to record a case of the virus.
There are concerns that in case the disease hits the region, the effect will be huge.
Coast Regional Commissioner John Elungata warned politicians in Lamu and Tana River against shuttling between virus-hit areas and their regions in the name of distributing humanitarian aid.
Elungata noted that the two counties are faced with long-time infrastructural challenges that might make it difficult to fight the coronavirus in the incident of an outbreak.
There have been concerns from the health department and activists over the reckless distribution of aid by politicians and other philanthropists directly to members of the public, a move many feel could easily cause an outbreak of the virus.
So far, Lamu has established three Covid-19 centres, one at the Lamu King Fahad hospital and one each at the Mpeketoni and Faza subcounty hospitals.
However, apart from the empty buildings earmarked as isolation centres, there is no equipment including basic resuscitation supplies and other facilities needed for any ICU to function.
The only available tangibles are face masks and protective gowns for medical personnel.
While the likes of the Mbagathi isolation centre is equipped with beds, scanners and test kits, the Lamu facility only has beds and cupboards.
The Health sector in Lamu has been on the spot over the deplorable state of facilities and nonexistent infrastructure.
As at now, the isolation facilities can only receive Covid-19 patients but can’t treat them as they lack even the basic facilities.
Early this week, the county government commenced distribution of over 100,000 free face masks to locals.
Health CEC Anne Gathoni admitted that the region didn’t have an ICU. She, however, said that plans were underway to put up a five-bed ICU centre.
“The building is ready, working on the other bits,” Gathoni said.
Lamu has four key public hospitals, 34 dispensaries and several health centres.
Gathoni insisted that the health department was well-prepared and alert to arrest any cases of coronavirus.
Edited by R.Wamochie
