Principal Secretaries Karanja Kibicho and Susan Mochache are today expected to flag off the distribution of 170 jua kali hospital beds to 14 counties at Uhuru Park Grounds in Nairobi.
The beds will make up the 500 procured from three local artisans following President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive in July 2020.
The directive was in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and promoting local manufacturing.
This comes, as Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua says that all the county’s Level 5 hospital’s, 15 ICU beds and the additional 12 HDU beds are full with severe Covid patients.
In a tweet, the governor warned members of the public that the situation has gotten worse in the country.
He said, “All our machakos Level 5 hospital s’ 15 ICU beds and additional 12 HDU beds full with SEVERE Covid patients. All Machakos 42 ICU/HDU beds with oxygen points also full. People are waiting for others to die to get a bed. MASK, avoid BARS, be WISE. Hakuna vitanda.”
Mutua said that all Machakos’ 42 ICU and HDU beds with oxygen points are also full.
He then appealed to the residents to adhere to the covid protocols to avert further spread of the virus.
Mutua’s comment come after Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union warn that there are no spaces left within Intensive Care Units across the country.
In a press address on Tuesday, KMPDU Acting secretary-general Chibanzi Mwachonda said that the rising numbers of infections have not spared healthcare workers.
Mwachonda said, “The acute shortage of doctors is detrimental to the health sector. We urge the Ministry of health and National Treasury to fast-track the contract renewal process of the 156 hired to work in isolation and treatment centers across the country.”
He said that there are currently 10 doctors who are admitted for the virus.