• Dr Aruasa says the number of Covid admissions at MTRH is increasing.
• Hospital CEO urges Kenyans to get vaccinated, saying those severely affected are mostly unvaccinated.
Image: MATHEWS NDANYI
Covid-19 again is on the rise in a sixth wave and most hospital admissions for severe cases countrywide are unvaccinated patients.
Those cases are increasing at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
Experts say subvariants of Omicron are highly transmissible, cause more severe illness and target the lungs.
MTRH chief executive officer Dr Wilson Aruasa on Monday urged Kenyans to get vaccinated and observe Health ministry protocols.
He was commissioning a new Sh4 million hand washing machine.
The protocols include wearing masks, washing hands and avoiding large crowds.
“From what we are seeing at the hospital, those getting severe infections are those who are yet to get any vaccination," Aruasa said.
"Therefore, we urge Kenyans to go for the jab because it's safe, reduces the severity of infections and lowers hospitalisations."
He spoke at the hospital during donation of a Sh4 million hand washing machine by Bayer East Africa in conjunction with Kenya Water for Health Organisation (Kwaho).
Two more are being installed.
The machines will improve hand hygiene and curb the spread of infections, including Covid-19.
More than 20,000 people including visitors, patients, and healthcare workers are expected to be benefit from use of the machines.
John Mwangi, who is the Bayer East Africa representative, said hand washing is one of the most effective ways to control the spread of communicable diseases.
“We felt as a company we needed to partner with MTRH to launch this project that will go a long way to fulfilling the needs of the community," he said.
The hand washing stations at the hospital also provides safe drinking water.
Mwangi half of the diarrhea cases can be prevented through hand washing.
Hand washing can help prevent as much as 16 to 21 per cent of respiratory diseases, such as Covid, according to the latest World Health Organization statistics, Mwangi said
"The machine couldn't have come at a better time especially when Covid-19 is again on the rise," Dr Aruasa said.
(Edited by V. Graham)