Mombasa county is planning to establish an open-field hospital to boost war on Covid-19 after the Technical University of Mombasa isolation centre was closed.
County public health communications officer Richard Chacha said on Wednesday that the county is, however, still looking for a location to set up the field hospital.
“We are looking for space to put up the field hospital, which will help us in case of any upsurge,” he said.
The TUM isolation centre, which had 300 beds, was closed to allow for the reopening of the learning institution.
The field centre will accommodate 180 beds. They are part of those that were in TUM isolation centre. The remaining 120 beds will be distributed at Mvita and Tudor hospitals.
The Mvita clinic has been identified to accommodate 80 beds. Tudor Hospital will accommodate 35 beds and another five for ICU.
However, Mvita residents on Tuesday petitioned the court to suspend the setting up of a Covid-19 isolation and treatment centre at the Mvita clinic.
They say such a move would pose a health hazard, especially to children with weak immunity. In the petition filed at the High Court in Mombasa under a certificate of urgency, residents say it would be unwise to set up the facility within a residential area.
Their lawyer Leonard Shimaka said Mvita clinic is surrounded by schools and other amenities frequented by children.
Meanwhile, Chacha has denied claims that the Coast General Hospital is full and no more patients can be accommodated at the facility. He said that Coast General Hospital has 150 beds and only 64 patients are occupied.
“We have enough space for our patients and no one has been sent away because of lack of space in our hospitals,” Chacha said.
