A health workers’ union in Busia wants the county government to establish a special Covid-19 isolation and treatment centre for health staff.
Kenya National Union of Nurses Busia Secretary General Isaiah Omondi said despite it being mandatory for the county to set up the facility, there are no indications the centre will be set up soon.
Omondi spoke to the Star after one nurse tested positive for the disease at Khunyangu. She was admitted to the Alupe isolation and treatment centre.
Omondi said health workers who test positive should not be put under treatment together with members of the public.
“We had one staff test positive in Khunyangu. The staff was taken to Alupe without setting aside a special unit for sick staffs,” Omondi said.
“Setting up a special facility for sick staff is mandatory. But you know a sleeping government will not do anything. They are very good at public relations but on the ground, they are nowhere.”
Last month, Health and Sanitation Chief Officer Isaac Omeri said there are plans to establish more Covid-19 isolation and treatment centres in the county.
Attempts by the Star to get a comment from Omeri were futile as phone calls went unanswered. A text message also sent to him by the time this story was filed had not been respond to.
Deputy Governor Moses Mulomi who is acting Health chief executive did not also answer calls or respond to a text message.
The new Covid-19 facilities, Omeri said, will accommodate 124 beds.
They will be established at Kocholya Level 4 Hospital, Nambale Subcounty, Sio-Port and Khunyangu. These four will have 30 beds each while the one in Port Victoria Hospital will be fitted with 24 beds.
“Currently, we are focusing mostly on Alupe and Agricultural Training Centre. We have discussed possibilities of expanding our bed capacity to 402,” Omeri said.
“Most of the residents confirmed positive of the coronavirus are those who have mingled with the long-distance truck drivers especially in Busia and Malaba towns.”
Before Omeri announced the planned setting up of the new facilities, Omondi had raised an issue with the county government claiming the devolved unit had not been testing health workers for the virus.
He said health workers need to be treated with dignity because of the role they play in ensuring Busia residents stay healthy at a time when cases continue to rise.
“We are exposed to infection now that the integrity of PPE is questionable,” Omondi said.
“With the infection now well entrenched in the communities, most facilities will have to close should a staff test positive.”
Health workers are doing their best to save lives despite Busia being among the counties with the highest Covid-19 burden, Omeri said last week.
Edited by R.Wamochie
