In compliance with the Presidential directive for 300 bed capacity isolation center, the county government of Kisumu has identified three facilities including Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), Kisumu County referral hospital and Lumumba hospital to meet the required capacity for isolation measures.
In all, the County health department has set aside 279 more beds in the 3 facilities to be used for isolation wards and treatment of the coronavirus. With a current bed capacity as at 21, the health department has offered to set up quarantine facilities in the hospitals with additional 60 beds at JOOTRH, 119 at Kisumu County referral hospital and 100 beds at Lumumba hospital. The 3 facilities are being readied for keeping the patients in isolation.
Disclosing this earlier on, the County director health and sanitation Mr. Fredrick Oluoch said the County is set to provide the additional beds in the 3 facilities as a precautionary effort, with 30 beds currently ready for dispatch into the facilities.
A series of measures have previously been put in place to help mitigate the pandemic as the country faces alarming projections of the number of COVID-19 cases, the pressure to meet spiraling health system needs is strong especially for hospital based care.
Apart from creating isolation centers, the health department has also to trained health workers on handling the coronavirus cases, if reported, special focus on screening of travelers along the County borders, screening in public spaces, establishment and operationalization of the COVID response management committee, setting up of holding rooms at the Sub County hospitals, operationalization of the call center (Toll free number 0800720575) and contact tracing progress.
By Matilda Atieno
A section of the isolation facility readied for patients (Picture by Jacob Owiti)
