AfricaPress-Kenya: Nyeri County has put in place initiatives to combat the spread of coronavirus.More than 1,300 health workers have been trained on how to handle Covid-19 patients.
Additionally, Governor Mutahi Kahiga (pictured) said more than 600 traders were relocated from Chaka market to a wider temporary place to ensure that they keep social distance.
“We have provided piped water for hand washing to all markets and bus stages, and the distribution of masks is ongoing in villages,” said Mr Kahiga.
The governor explained that way before President Uhuru Kenyatta’s announcement of a restriction of movement in some counties, Nyeri had placed 60 people in quarantine after they arrived from other regions.Further, more than 185,000 people had been screened at the six entry points as at Sunday.
He added that the county set up a fully equipped isolation centre at Mt Kenya Hospital once the first case of the pandemic was reported in the country. Kahiga said the county is setting up more quarantine facilities, including at Wambugu Farm.“There is a team on the ground visiting hospitals to assess others that can be turned into isolation centres. There is also the possibility of turning Nyeri National Polytechnic into an isolation centre,” he added.
Kahiga explained that they have put in place necessary measures should the county record any coronavirus cases.
“We have procured more than 31,000 surgical masks from Kenya Medical Supplies Agency and over 4,000 litres of sanitisers for all the health facilities across the county,” said the governor adding that the protective items donated by companies are being distributed to boda boda and matatu operators, market traders and residents.
The county assembly has also introduced a Bill on the allocation of a Sh19 million emergency fund.
Matatu owners and small traders have also benefited from a reduction of levies by the county government to cushion them from the effects of the pandemic. Matatu parking fees have been reduced from Sh1,500 to Sh750.“We have listened to the plight of traders and understand that these are tough times,” said Finance CEC Robert Thuo.
