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.

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.

Embu County Government moves to Counter Corona Panic

An example of some of newspaper headlines that have aggravated panic in the general populace. 

Governor Wambora gets Sh22

million to fight Corona Virus.

 Embu County Governor Martin Wambora's emergency kitty has received Sh22 million to fight the spread of Corona-virus in the County.

The money was set aside by the Embu County Assembly for use by the Governor to protect the county residents in case the worrying virus is reported in the county.

Sh120 million has already been allocated for supply of drugs in public hospitals and purchase of adequate non-pharmaceutical supplies.

The move targets to alleviate problems faced by patients seeking treatment at the county’s health facilities.

Embu county MCAs during a special sitting to pass the first supplementary budget for the 2019/2020 Financial Year in which the Sh22 million was allocated//Image; Courtesy.

Embu Level Five Teaching and Referral Hospital and several other Sub-county hospitals have already set up isolation facilities to deal with the global catastrophe.

"My Government has also fully equipped 37 bed capacity isolation units across all sub counties, for any eventuality in respect to the global catastrophe," said Governor Wambora. 

Even as the county government puts up measures to prevent infections and spread of the virus, residents have been advised to limit movements within and outside the county. 

"Residents should also adopt cashless transactions as much as possible and use mobile banking," he said.

Governor Wambora addressing the press on the County Government's preparedness to fight Corona Virus scourge//Image By Martin Fundi.

"Social gatherings such as weddings and burials should have a minimal number of attendees so as to ensure the social distance of at least one meter is observed."