United States embassy has donated 153,000 pieces of reusable face masks to be distributed to Wajir county residents.
The consignment of 85 cartons each containing 1,800 masks reached the county government on Wednesday.
The consignment was received at the Wajir health headquarters and witnessed by county executive for Health Ismail Shaykh, Wajir East assistant county commissioner Charles Kutimwa and county commissioner Jacob Narengo.
Shaykh said the department will ensure prudent distribution to populous areas in the county such as Soko Mjinga, Orahey, livestock market and Griftu bus stage.
“We shall also share the responsibility of distribution with religious leaders such as imams to ensure that the masks are also distributed to the faithful in mosques and other areas of worship,” Shaykh said.
“We sincerely extend our gratitude to the US embassy for this noble initiative and we hope to continue with such partnership in a bid to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Kutimwa assured those who gathered to witness reception of the consignment that the national government would collaborate with the county government to ensure that the masks are distributed in all the nine subcounties.
“Through the national government framework, we shall ensure that the gadgets reach the grassroots level at the village. Our first target and priority are the vulnerable groups in the community such as the disabled, orphans, women vendors of milk and vegetables and livestock traders,” he said.
“We shall endeavour to ensure that the masks reach those who lack ability to purchase and access clinically certified masks”.
“We thank our donors from America, a group known as US Kenya Marafiki, whose patron is the US ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter and we shall endeavour to cooperate with the American government in our efforts to eradicate Covid-19 and in other sectors of the economy,” the administrator said.
So far, 1,399 Covid-19 tests have been done in Wajir county and 36 cases found. One died while the other 35 patients recovered.
"At the moment, we don't have any patient in isolation centres or home-based care,"Shaykh revealed.
The CEC added that six health officers were affected, with the first fatality being a senior member of the department.
Shaykh called for continuous collaboration with developmental partners and other stakeholders, notably for provision of personal protective equipment, citing the challenge of the vast county and the porous border with Somalia.
Edited by Henry Makori
