Thank God, it's not so bad, after all

Reality is; it is never too serious

Dr. Abdi (left), the Medical Officer for Critical Services at Embu Teaching and Referral Hospital poses with Embu County Public Service Board Commissioner Kithaka Njeru (center) and Dr. Iliwa, the Medical Superintendent at Runyenjes Level 4 Hospital after Health CS Mutahi Kagwe's address to the nation from Embu County. The Minister recognized the two Doctors, among others, for exemplary service rendered in the fight against Corona virus.

In my line of duty, I am regularly required to be on top of every little matter that might be of macroeconomic impact. 

As such, I often seek and get opportunities to listen to what people say concerning both National and County governments’ performance on issues of public interest and vise-versa, then escalate and/or disseminate the information accordingly.

Presently, the novel corona virus has become the one thing which everything else seems to be hinged upon. Apparently, the government has put it upon the citizenry to curb the spread of the pandemic by religiously observing government directives on the same.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, conscious of the fact that all eyes are on him to steer Kenya towards freedom from the plague, has stated that the steps his government shall take will depend on the rate of infection in relation to patterns of interaction.

Statisticians working on the problem have probably advised the government concerning the curve on which focus should be concentrated. That would be the curve representing the number of people who die from Covid-19 over a given period of time in relation to total recoveries.

Research has revealed that getting infected with the virus doesn’t necessarily result in death. In fact, patients who have recovered from the virus are more than those who have succumbed. The correlation of recoveries, fatalities and new infections should be a major determinant in all executive decisions concerning the future of this country.

Therefore, it would be prudent for the government to engage relevant mass communication channels to instill hope in the people by highlighting the above fact. Here is an example of a logical argument to back up this line of reasoning: 

Out of 2,474 cases tested on 20 July, 418 came up positive. During the same period, 494 patients recovered while 4 succumbed. On 21 July, 3651 tests were done (1177 more), but the number of new infections went down to 397 while recoveries rose to 642 and fatalities reduced to 2. On 22 July, out of 4275 tested, 637 turned up positive (owing to higher number tested) with 499 recoveries and 10 fatalities.  

During this 3 day period, the total number of new positive cases is 1452 while recoveries are 1635 (recoveries are higher than infections). The number of deaths during the period is only 16. What does this tell?

It tells that if this trend continues, with the number of recoveries exceeding that of new infections, then with time we will have almost everyone having been infected and duly recovered; leading to herd immunity. So you see, it it is not too bad, after all.

Obey the Law or Perish, Leaders advise the Public

Tough-Talking Governor issues Stern Directives to Combat Covid-19 in Embu

 

Embu Governor Martin Wambora distributes free facemasks to 
motorcycle taxi operators in Embu town,in efforts to combat
 the spread of Corona virus. PHOTO:Martin Fundi

Embu Governor, Martin Wambora, has issued a stern warning to miraa and muguka traders that they risk having sale of the crop banned for blatant violation of COVID-19 prevention protocols.

The Governor, who termed the traders as notoriously undisciplined ordered that the Muguka market immediately reverts to Embu Stadium where the County Government has provided hand sanitizers, washing points and thermal guns.

“The stadium serves much better in place of dealers hawking their merchandise along Kamuketha Street in the CBD where no hygiene is observed.” He said.

Governor Wambora (Center) addresses the press earlier, on his government's preparedness to fight the spread of Corona virus. To his left is County Commissioner Abdullahi Galgalo and Deputy Governor David Kariuki (right)

Flanked by County Commissioner Abdullahi Galgalo, Wambora also put on notice unscrupulous bar owners who have been reported to illegally sell alcohol against government directives, saying the county was collaborating with state security agencies to ensure that the backdoor smuggling of revelers into bars is quashed.

He at the same time revealed that some markets were on the Coronavirus multi-agency radar for disregarding the requirement to keep social distancing and cleansing of hands. He as well fingered the transport sector, saying operators of Matatus and Bodabodas had been observed to operate without facemasks and hand sanitizers.

The governor inspects a galon of hand sanitizer before distribution to the public

The Governor confirmed that the County Government had established 194 isolation beds to quarantine those who would be found in violation of COVID-19 prevention measures at a personal cost of Ksh 4,000 per day. He said the Kenya School of Government (KSG), Embu Campus has set aside 98 rooms while Whispering Hills hotel offers 25 rooms and Camp David Hotel 71 rooms. All these facilities have self-contained living quarters for self-sponsored luxury quarantine.

Governor Wambora, who was speaking at his Embu office while dispatching a consignment of donations from Mozzart Bet Company worth Ksh 1,000,000 and assorted items to combat the Coronavirus pandemic. He said the Kenya Pipeline Company had pledged to supply 400 liters of alcohol-based hand sanitizers every week until the contagion is arrested.

In addition, the Governor stated that the county’s Vocational Training Centre instructors had been trained on the manufacture of reusable facemasks, and would be producing 1,000 masks per day as from Monday 27 April 2020. He announced that the County Government would be issuing 20,000 facemasks free of charge to Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operations, marketplaces and government offices.

Charity begins at home

Governor Wambora distributes 20,000 face masks to needy groups

Governor Wambora distributes face masks to Bodaboda riders for free, at his offices on 23 April. PHOTO:Martin Fundi

Embu county Governor Martin wambora on Thursday distributed  20, 000 free facemasks to vulnerable groups across the county.

Speaking while launching the distribution, Governor Wambora said that hawkers, Matatu operators, Boda boda operators and Mama Mbogas will receive 2,500 pieces for each group.

Those living in slums will receive a batch of 2,500 pieces, Rescue Centers will get 1,500 pieces, children homes will have 1,100 while people living with disabilities will get 1,000 pieces.

Those working in the Juakali sector will get 2,500 pieces, revenue collection staff will get 600, street children 500, garbage collection staff 400 and enforcement officers will benefit with 200 pieces of face masks.

Corona Virus experts

Embu trains 2,792 experts to combat Corona Virus

Embu CEC for Health Patrick Waganagwa (center) addresses the press at the Embu County Assembly on Tuesday 7 April 2020. Image//Martin Fundi

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mbu County government has trained 2,792 experts across the larger county to combat infection and spread of Corona Virus.

The experts were trained by a team of professional county medical personnel of different cadres who were equipped as Trainers of Trainers by the Ministry of Health.

The Trainers of Trainers (ToT) drawn from different medical facilities across the county cascaded the knowledge to the experts who are now flying a flag as ambassadors of good health.

This comes after the county government setting up 37 bed capacity isolation centers in different health facilities in the county in case of any eventuality.

The 2,792 trained experts are moving around the county sensitizing residents and urging them to take measures laid down by the national government.

They are also demonstrating to residents how to wash hands, sanitize, tie masks and among other health safety measures.

Embu County Executive Committee member for Health, Patrick Waganagwa said that medical service providers at Embu Level 5 referral hospital have already been issued with assorted Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) from the National Government’s Ministry of Health.

‘’Medical commodities from Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) which were delivered to the County stores have already been distributed to Embu Level 5 Hospital and all Level 4 Hospitals,’’ said the county Minister.

Further, the CEC noted that all medical staff who were on study leave have been recalled back and deployed to Embu Level 5 referral hospital to offer support.

Following this, the Embu County Assembly’s Health Committee has unanimously agreed to join hands with the rest of the county government officers in the fight against the infection and spread of Corona Virus.

Speaking on the floor of the county assembly on Tuesday, the Health Committee led by Chairman Muturi Mwombo, who is also the Ruguru Ngandori MCA said that they had invited the county’s health department senior officials for a deliberation meeting on the national health catastrophe.

Embu County Assembly Health Committee Chairperson and MCA for Ruguru-Ngandori Ward Hon. Muturi Mwombo, flanked by Health CEC (left) and Health C.O Grace Muriithi addresses the media outside Assembly Chambers. Image//Martin Fundi

‘’Unlike in many other past times, today we invited our officers from the health department to find out the progress and measures put in place to fight Corona Virus so that we can also join the course,’’ said Muturi.

The committee had summoned the County Executive Committee Member for Health, Patrick Waganagwa, Chief Officer for medical services Grace Murithi and Public Health Chief Officer Mbogo Muchungu amidst allegations that the department's impact in the fight against the catastrophe was not being felt.

The Committee called on the officers to embark on sensitizing, educating and giving feedback as well as disseminating information on Corona Virus awareness.

‘’The department in Charge of Medical services and Public Health should inform the general public, on timely basis, of steps that the government has taken and the way forward in protecting the public from the scourge,’’ said the Committee members.

“The purpose of this meeting is to come up with a work together formula to bring hope to the general populace,” added the Committee.

What Embu Needs (WhEN) Series #3: Corona Virus Heroes

Embu youth translate the lifesaving Corona Virus message into local dialect

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mbu youth, powered by goodwill and driven by worry, have translated a lifesaving message on Corona Virus into simple Kiembu. 

A creativity urge spiced by a nose for gaps by the youth has turned them into local messengers, bringing the message home in a language understood across board.

"We noted how difficult it is to explain the message on the prevention of Corona Virus infection to the literary challenged and decided to translate the message into local dialects for easier consumption by all," said the youth. 

With this, young scholars can read out word for word to those who do not understand English, especially the elderly and people living in remote villages, hence better dissemination of the message. 

What Embu Needs (WhEN) recognizes such youth as Corona Virus heroes whose efforts to beat the scourge should be appreciated.