Homa Bay gets Sh2.5 million PPE boost to fight Covid

Homa Bay county has received Sh2.5 million worth of Personal Protective Equipment to boost in the fight against Covid-19.

The PPEs donated by Mozzart betting company will go towards protecting 5,000 health workers across the county.

The PPEs include isolation beds, mattresses, face masks, overalls, and 3-ply protective masks.

While receiving the donation on Tuesday, Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti emphasized that the county needed help to fight the pandemic .

He noted that the PPEs will be distributed to the the county health workers who are on the front line in the fight against Covid-19.

“ Our emphasis as the government will be more on implementation of the preventive measures and ensuring that our constituents adhere to the set out protocols by the Ministry of Health,”Awiti said.

Mozzart Bet Country Manager Sasa Krenta, said that the donation was intended to support the health facilities and members of staff so that they can continue saving lives.

“Mozzart bet has been at the fore front of fighting the coronavirus as evidenced by its Sh10 million donation to 10 counties under the Council of Governors in April 2020 where each county got Sh1 million each. Also donated more than a total Sh70 million through our continued initiatives and we will not stop here,” he added

The Governor however highlighted that delay in disbursement of funds to counties by the National Government has been the main challenge in fighting the pandemic as it affects their capacity to buy adequate PPEs. 

It was also highlighted that the county was facing an acute shortage of beds noting that  besides Covid-19, there are other serious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and facilities require the beds in order to accommodate as many patients as possible. 

According to the County Health Executive Richard Muga, the donated PPEs would be utilized for the next two weeks, given that the county spends approximately Sh1 million a week in procuring the protective equipment. 

“The donation will go a long way since everyday you will find that a front line worker will need at least two PPEs that is a surgical mask and if you are in the ICU you will use two of the KN95 masks. The PPEs have saved us millions that can be used for other services to the people of Homa Bay,” he said.

Covid-19 situation

Homa Bay has recorded 470 cases of Covid-19 since the first infection being last year April out of which 41 are health professionals and have lost 19 health workers to the virus.

Since then , the Awiti led administration has been able to set up 9 isolation centers within the county.

Governor Awiti stressed that health workers have also been prioritized in the ongoing vaccination drive to ensure they were equipped to adequately deal with the scourge.

As Monday this week, 11,000 Homa Bay residents had been so far vaccinated from the total 18,000 vaccine vials received from the Ministry of Health. 

“As directed by the Ministry of health , front line health workers, teachers, security personnel and senior citizens have been atop our priority list as they are the ones most vulnerable to contracting and spreading the disease,”Awiti added.