By John Mugendi
Tharaka Nithi County government is working on more measures to fight the Covid-19 pandemic ahead of the anticipated fourth wave of infection which is expected to be tougher.
The devolved government which has severally been rated among the top three best on health matters in the country set to soon operationalize high-dependency unit at the facility at Chuka County Referral Hospital.
The county government has also partnered with a French donor to establish a modern Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Magutuni Sub County Hospital in Maara constituency and plans are also underway to have a similar facility at Marimanti Sub County Hospital.
Speaking while receiving the second dose of the Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccination, Governor Muthomi Njuki said the specialist facilities are very critical in case of a surge in severe Covid-19 disease cases.
“Ministry of Health has already warned that the country is likely to experience a fourth wave of Coronavirus infection and we are doing everything possible to prepare ourselves to avoid being overwhelmed in case of a surge in patient numbers” said Governor Njuki.
The county boss said they targeted to vaccinate 20,000 residents in the first phase but it received only 7800 doses from the national government and already only 440 were remaining.
He said the remaining few doses will still be administered to those who received the first dose as the county waits for more from the national government.
He said though the uptake of the vaccination is over 90 percent, it’s still low among teachers and security officers at 13 and 17.2 percentages of the targeted respectively.
He called on teachers to avoid the falsehood going round on the social media over the safety of the jab and take it for the sake of their welfare and the learners.
Njuki said the reception of the jab is high among the elders at 65 percent and health workers at 35.5 percent of the targeted numbers.
So far out of the 486 people who have been diagnosed with the Covid-19 disease in the county, 24 have died, 446 recovered and the rest are receiving treatment with 10 admitted to various hospitals.
Njuki has attributed the low infection and death rate to various measures put up by the county government in partnership with the national government including the establishment of a modern oxygen plant.
