March 19, 2024

COVID-19: Mombasa County Facing Acute Shortage of Health Workers

Mombasa county Public Health Chief Officer Aisha Abubakar. Image: (Courtesy)

MCK (P15)

By PETER KOMBE AND SALMA ATHMAN

Email: thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

The department of health in Mombasa County has urged the national government to deploy more health officers in a bid to combat further spread of the coronavirus.

This move the department says will go a long way in reducing the number of the virus cases in the daily national tally.

Speaking to the media in Mombasa on Monday, the county Health Chief Officer Aisha Abubakar said the county government is currently experiencing a shortage of public health workers.

“The government should not relax. We need more health officers despite the drop in the number of cases. It is high time that the government gives health a priority,” she said.

The Chief Officer further asked the locals to avoid spreading fear insisting that the corona virus is real.

She notes that disease testing is still undergoing in health facilities.

“Corona testing is still on-going in health facilities. We are testing 150 truck drivers daily,” said Ms Abubakar.

She however says the war on the COVID-19 requires a multifaceted approach.

The chief officer urged locals to adhere to all health guidelines in a bid to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

Noted Aisha “The county government has put in place measures to ensure the pandemic does not spread further. We should all be responsible,”   

Meanwhile, Mombasa county assembly health committee chair Kibwana Swaleh blamed the county government on claims of laxity in the mass testing exercise.

Mombasa County Assembly health committee chair Kibwana Swaleh. Image: PETER KOMBE

Swaleh explained that operating hotels and restaurants must adhere to the laid down directives in order to stop the spread of COVID-19.

“Mass testing must continue. What we are seeing right now is that there is laxity in mass testing,” he noted.

The chair adds that there is need for the county government to diversify mass testing services of corona virus in all the sub counties.

He appealed to the county government to conduct a stiff sensitization campaign in a bid to create awareness on the impacts of the corona pandemic.

“Community health volunteers should be involved in the county activities because they are always at the grassroots,” he stated.

At the same time, DSW programs officer Judy Mboku said the pandemic mostly affected the youths.

DSW programs officer Judy Mboku (centre) flanked by other county officials. Image: PETER KOMBE

She pleaded youths to visit health facilities to in order to know their health status.

“COVID-19 exists and youths should come out and seek services. The issue of health is a personal responsibility,” she noted.

Mboku asked youths to stay at the forefront in combating the spread of COVID-19 adding that they are role models in the community.

On Monday the county government of Mombasa recorded no case of corona virus with the government confirming a total of 492 cases pushing the case load to 26928.

A total of 534 people recovered from the virus and 3 fatalities.

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