Kapenguria referral hospital has suspended outpatient services and elective surgeries for 14 days after the County recorded 62 Coronavirus cases in the past 4 weeks.
In a memo seen by the press, it’s revealed that some of the staff working at Kapenguria referral hospital have turned out to be Covid-19 positive, thus affecting service delivery since they are in isolation.
Visitors will not be allowed in the hospital for 14 days and patients requiring a caretaker will only be allowed to have one caretaker whom will be accorded special clearance by the hospital.
The memo further stated that all outpatient clinics and elective surgeries have been put off for a period of two weeks and emergencies and high risk obstetric cases will be attended to on a case by case basis.
Speaking to the press West Pokot county health director Norbert Abuya said since March to September the County had recorded only seven cases, citing that the cases have shot up within a month.
“There will be no more visitation at the facility, so that we break the chain of transmission. Doctors will be allowed in the hospital so that they can deliver services, we have been affected because most of the health officers who tested positive are on off duty,” he said.
He added that most of the patients are on home based care and if the County continues to record more cases it will reach a point where health facilities across the County will have few medics to attend to patients.
He urged locals to stop stigmatizing recovered patients adding that most of the patients who have recovered have been stigmatized by the society.
“The 62 Coronavirus patients are fairly stable and are on home based care, we are tracing contacts and doing more tests, those who defy quarantine regulations will be arrested. We have noted a trend where some patients defy 14 days quarantine and start mingling with members of public before they fully recover,” he said.
West Pokot county governor John Lonyangapuo said the County administration will implement strict rules on public facilities across the County.
He said all County government workers will have to maintain social distance in their offices and a number of workers will be forced to work in shifts or work from home.
“Others will work from home, I will personally supervise all the offices to check if they have worn masks, maintain social distance and if they sanitize,” he said.
He noted that town council workers will be put on strategic positions to supervise if shops, supermarkets, banks and other public outlets have hand washing water and soap at the door step and if not their licenses will be suspended and the business premises shut down.
“Kapenguria referral hospital is now overcrowded. We have received patients from Trans Nzoia County who have come for services. Trans Nzoia has recorded more cases than West Pokot and their doctors are on strike, that is the challenge we have,” he said. He advised all health workers to wear appropriate PPEs to prevent more transmissions.