In Summary
The emerging trends about the spread of the coronavirus are worrying.
New
and increased infections are being recorded in counties. For weeks, it
was domiciled in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale. Which is why the
lockdown was restricted to just those regions. That is no longer the
case.
A total of 21 counties have recorded infections
as the toll hit 225. Among these are far-flung counties such as Mandera,
where six cases were reported.
Mandera and other
northern counties have unique challenges, ranging from infrastructure to
insecurity, and when confronted with the epidemic, things can only get
worse.
Broadly, what is of concern is that counties are
not prepared to handle the pandemic. They do not have the
infrastructure and human resources to deal with the crisis.
Matters
are made worse by the obtaining social, economic and cultural order
where enforcing some of the containment measures are not workable.
BOOST CAPACITY
For records,
Council of Governors Chairman Wycliffe Oparanya has categorically stated
that counties do not have the required resources and capabilities to
handle the contagion.
Yet handling the epidemic, right
from testing, isolation and case management, requires enhanced
capacity. Doctors and nurses need specialised training to handle the
disease.
Hospitals ought to have dedicated wards and
facilities, including full-fledged ICU units. Additionally, medical
personnel require protective kits such as face masks, gloves and hazmat
suits. These are sorely lacking in counties.
In this
mix is financing. Counties have consistently complained about poor
funding. Annual allocations by the National Treasury to the regions have
steadily declined and worse, the cash is never disbursed on time.
At
this point, when the crisis is biting, counties do not have the cash to
procure resources and provisions to deal with increasing cases.
PRUDENCE
Some
emergency funds have been sent to counties but they are inadequate. On
their own, counties must strictly exercise prudence in financial
management.
So far, the Health ministry has announced
it will supply resources to counties such as testing kits and protective
equipment. This should be expedited.
Given the
circumstances, the government should redirect its energies and work with
county administrations to focus on strategies to deal with the virus
out there.
Additional resources must be reassigned to
counties. Campaigns must be intensified for attitude and behaviour
change, which means preparing well-targeted information and
communication messages that speak directly to the people.
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