LREB Counties to launch Advisory & Strategy Committee on Covid-19 as Govt gives sh 29.7B to counties
By Dickson Odhiambo
August 12, 2020
LREB Counties to launch Advisory & Strategy Committee on Covid-19 as Govt gives sh 29.7B to counties
The Lake Region Economic Block will next week unveil the COVID-19 Advisory and Strategy Committee at its Head Quarters in Kisumu.
Chairman of the Lake Region Economic Bloc {LREB} Wickliffe Oparanya says the committee comprises of eminent persons from the region.
Addressing the press in Kisumu today, Oparanya said already the Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’I has accepted to grace the occasion as the Chief Guest.
Oparanya says this committee will be very crucial hence the 14 Counties which forms the LREB have decided to form it.
Oparanya says almost all the 47 County Governments have been affected by the novel coronavirus hence therefor calls for concerted effort from all the stakeholders. County Governments have continued to enhance their response measures towards COVID-19.
Oparanya who is also the Governor for Kakamega County says whereas Counties are making effort in addressing the pandemic, they take cognizance of the challenges of which one is stigmatization.
“As Council of Governors, we have strived to create awareness on Corona virus through radio and TV programs conducted on a weekly basis. However, we note that this is not enough hence there is need for complementary effort from stakeholders. In this regard, we appeal to all media houses and the Civil Society Organizations to partner with County Governments and conduct civic education on COVID-19,” Oparanya says.
He says in the last one week, the 47 County Governments have addressed themselves to the following that include active quarantine facilities where 40 Counties reported on the status of active quarantine facilities.
“Currently, there are 818 people in these facilities and 1,044 people who were confined in public quarantine facilities have been released. Cumulatively in 40 Counties, 10,498 tests have been carried out of which 1,106 people have tested positive. Of this number, 177are healthcare workers who tested positive across the Counties. Training and sensitization of Healthcare workers 40 Counties have trained and sensitize additional 1,272 healthcare workers, 1,505 Community Healthcare workers,” Oparanya further says.
He says the other one is Implementation of Home-based Care Currently in 37 counties, adding that there are 630 patients under Home-based Care as in the last one week, 183 patients confined in home-based care have recovered.
“County Governments have continued to support COVID-19 patients through nutrition assessment and psychosocial counselling to help them manage the virus and equip them will the necessary health education,” Governor Oparanya says.
He adds that on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, the County Governments have ensured uninterrupted water connection and installation of hand washing facilities with soap in the Isolation facilities, markets and bus stations.
“This has helped to curb the spread of the virus. Additionally, with the support of development partners, a provisional website has been established to track COVID-19WASH interventions. The platform dis aggregates the Information County by County which includes support from various partners. This is aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability and identify gaps for timely intervention. Once again, I would like to thank UNICEF who have provided a total of 233 tons of chlorine and alum chemicals to 13 Counties,” he says.
Gender Interventions, the Council of Governors Chair says this August 10, the Council participated in the launch of the Women’s Empowerment Index, County Poverty Profiles and County Budget Briefs which detailed the needs of women and children in all 47 Counties.
“This will inform policy planning, budgeting and monitoring at the county level to improve the well-being of women and children who have been the most affected during this period. Further, the Council, through the support of the UN Women has embarked on distributing dignity packs to women in isolation and quarantine facilities. This initiative will go a long way in ensuring that women in these facilities have the necessary supplies to manage their menstrual hygiene with dignity,” Council of Governors chair adds.
On the Support to Police and Prison Departments, he says the County Governments are committed to supporting the Police department to check the infection rate among suspects who are held in police cells, adding that at the same time the Counties provide support to the Prison Department to ensure that those in remand and prisoners are not endangered by this pandemic.
“The Counties shall provide laboratory technologists to collect samples from suspects who are held at police stations so that the police do not struggle to transport them to testing centers. We urge the National Government to fast track the testing of collected samples from the police suspects and prison departments,” Oparanya further says
On the issue of Release of Ksh. 29.7 billion to Counties, Oparanya says this has been done for the Month of June, 2020 to Counties, adding that this money has not so far been accessed by Counties because the IFMIS was only opened on Tuesday this week.
“This money will be accessed by Counties by the end of this week, which will go a long way in supporting the fight against Covid -19 and other operations. Sub –national Governments Covid -19 Virtual Conference will be held in the last week of this month as the County Governments shall hold a virtual conference to take share lessons on how they have managed the Pandemic and continued to provide Government services,” he further adds.
He says the conference will bring on board National Government Ministries, Regional and International organizations to share experiences of dealing with the pandemic.
“We would like to urge all Kenyans to register and participate in the conference as there shall be a lotto learn and share because Governments and other institutions have applied different strategies in addressing the pandemic but the ultimate goal has been similar to stop the spread of the virus in our communities,”
Oparanya suggests that as the counties continue in the fight against the pandemic, there is need to emphasize on personal responsibility and concerted effort from all stakeholders.
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