Kirinyaga County steps up COVID-19 prevention campaigns

The Kirinyaga County Government has launched an accelerated COVID-19 prevention campaign program in a bid to contain the spread of the virus at the community level.

Governor Anne Waiguru said the program will see health workers and community health volunteers traverse the villages educating the public on the need to strictly adhere to all COVID-19 prevention measures as well as enforcing the prevention protocols.

“We are mobilizing our teams to go around the towns, villages, markets, bus stations and schools educating the masses on the importance of adhering to covid-19 prevention and control protocols”, said the governor.

The campaigns are spearheaded by the Department of Health and implemented in collaboration with stakeholders from other government departments as well as religious and community leaders.

The county teams will be enforcing preventions guidelines in bus stations, markets, schools and other public service points such as eateries and offices.

She cited the rising rate of COVID-19 transmission across the villages, noting that most people infected with the disease are asymptomatic and would thus infect many others unknowingly.

“It is now imperative that we observe the recommended preventive measures at all times and make it a personal responsibility to ensure that we do not contract the disease out of negligence,” said the governor, reminding people to always wear their masks properly, wash their hands and avoid crowded places.

The county has so far registered 400 COVID-19 cases out of 2,248 samples and lost 7 people to the disease.

The governor observed that the county recently procured 5 ventilators and portable oxygen for use in the isolation centres. She added that 300 isolation beds are ready, waiting to be placed in one wing of the upcoming Medical Complex at Kerugoya.

Over the past week various county teams have carried out sensitization, enforcement and fumigation of various areas including Kianyaga Police Station, fumigation of Kiburu Dispensary and Baricho Health Centre.

The public awareness campaigns have also been carried out in schools such as Thiba Secondary and Mathias Primary.