The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in collaboration with the European Union (EU) has donated Covid-19 protective equipment worth Sh. 6.4 million to frontline healthcare workers in Kwale County.
The supplies that included Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and other medical supplies used to diagnose or treat Covid-19 were handed over to area Governor Fatuma Achani by Dr. Syed Sohail the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Aga Khan Hospital Mombasa.
Sohail said the second tranche of the medical supplies will enable healthcare workers in the coastal county to safely and effectively respond to the coronavirus disease that has upended life across the globe.
The medic said the first tranche of PPEs comprising surgical masks and examination gloves worth Sh. 2.6 million and e-learning equipment at a cost of Sh. 1.3 million were handed over to the devolved unit in 2021.
“These supplies will go a long way in supporting Kwale to protect its healthcare workers and strengthen the health system and facilities beyond the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said during the handing over ceremony at the Kwale county headquarters.
Sohail said the AKDN has partnered with the EU and the coastal counties of Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu in implementing a programme focusing on strengthening responses to the health, social and economic challenges brought about by the pandemic.
He said the Covid-19 pandemic has affected every aspect of life and that AKDN and its partners will continue to collaborate to find effective solutions to improve the quality of human life.
Sohail said the AKDN and the EU partnership seeks to tackle the pandemic’s health and social economic challenges as well as increase support for the wellbeing of local communities.
The Aga Khan Hospital Mombasa CEO made a passionate appeal to the devolved units to be champions of Covid-19 safety protocols to halt the spread of the disease.
“The devolved units should guard against laxity in the fight against Covid-19 even as the positivity rate goes down,” he said, warning people over the declining mask usage and vaccine uptake.
On her part, Governor Achani while receiving the donation said the consignment will go a long way in the fight against the threat of the pandemic and will hence ties with the development partners.
Achani said the medical supplies will be distributed to the main health facilities in Msambweni, Kinango and Lunga Lunga sub counties.
“These supplies will help us sustain the fight against Covid-19 pandemic especially in rural areas where access to healthcare is limited,” she said.
She called on residents and visitors to continue to strictly adhere to the public health measures such as masking, sanitizing and physical distancing and encouraged the public to visit health centres anytime they experienced any of the common symptoms related to Covid-19 such as fever, cough, sore throat, tiredness and loss of taste or smell.
Achani commended the AKDN for being a prominent development partner for years, in areas of sanitation and hygiene, education, health, infrastructure, women and youth empowerment among others.
She said if the pandemic is not checked, the long-term social and economic effects on the most vulnerable and marginalised communities in the region could be devastating.
The governor has assured that her administration will continue working with the Aga Khan foundation for the benefit of area residents.
By Hussein Abdullahi
