Lack of plans to utilize the over Sh157 million allocated to Lamu county government by the assembly to fight corona pandemic is what has led to worrying infection on covid-19 in the county, former Lamu governor Issa Timamy has said.
Mr. Timamy said the current Covid-19 infections are worrying yet the health facilities do not have oxygen to support those in isolation centers and other critical facilities like PPEs, and drugs.
Addressing reporters in Malindi the former Governor said in the last month the county has lost over 10 people due to lack of oxygen and the situation is worsening each day.
“The members of the county assembly need to ask hard questions on how the millions allocated to fight the pandemic were used and ensure it’s accounted for. Recently we have been shocked by the rise in Covid-19 infections. When you compare the population and the statistics of infections Lamu is higher than many counties,” he said.
He said that the assembly set aside funds and allocated the same to the Executive one year ago but instead of preparing for the pandemic they never did it.
So far, he said in the entire Lamu there is no single Oxygen plant in any of the medical facilities despite the fact that many of the patients require Oxygen to save their lives when infected which is causing massive loss of lives.
“At the same time health workers do not have personal protective equipment, there are challenges of isolation centers,” he said.
Currently, he said there are many patients in isolation, others are being supported with Oxygen which is not satisfactory.
He told the county Assembly to play their oversight role to question how the money they allocated was used because they were not used for the purpose of combating the pandemic.
The former governor also told the County government to shape up and provide services to the people of Lamu or ship out and leave the work to those who can deliver.
“The county the government could have used the money to set up oxygen plants in Mpeketoni, King Fahad, Witu, and Faza hospitals, right now if a resident of Witu is infected with Covid-19 he has to be taken all the way to Mpeketoni while a resident of Faza infected has to be taken to King Fahad hospital,” he said.
He said they want to know how the Sh157 million allocated by MCA was used and also challenged the authorities to look at the welfare of health workers who are risking their lives daily during this era of the pandemic.
The former governor called upon residents of Lamu to observe the health protocols issued by the Ministry of health to prevent the spread of the virus.
“People should wear masks, maintain social distance, avoid overcrowding and if one develops symptoms to quickly go to health facilities for testing,” he said.
Immediate former Lamu CEC member for health Raphael Munyua who served in the current regime and was dismissed said the last two months has shown many covid 19 infections but the county government is not prepared to handle them.
He said in Mpeketoni alone there are over 70 people who are undergoing treatment due to Covid-19 but the services from the health facilities are poor.
“Unless one helps himself with honey or hot water because the hospital has no drugs, oxygen is less and there are no ventilators in Mpeketoni,” he said.
Mr Munyua said the county had ample time for preparedness but did not emulate other counties in readiness to combat the pandemic thinking infections would remain low.
He challenged the county government to take emergency measures to save the lives of Lamu people as the 10 people died because of lack of facilities.
Munyua said it’s sad that due to lack of proper PPEs there are over eight nurses who contracted the virus and are in isolation currently
*This article was written by Ramadhan Kambi for Uzalendo News. Email: uzalendonews@gmail.com to submit your story.
