Nakuru County Domesticates WHO Protocols on COVID-19 Home-based Care Management
The County Government of Nakuru is working to adopt and domesticate home-based care protocols for COVID-19 coronavirus disease patients, a move aimed at decongesting health facilities. According to the World Health Organization, over 80 % of cases in health facilities are asymptomatic and can be managed at home with minimal risk of infection.
Today, the first batch of 30 nurses, clinical and public health officers drawn from across the County were trained on the COVID-19 pandemic community and home-based care protocols. The clinical case management training was conducted at the Kenya Red Cross – Nakuru Branch multi-purpose hall by the national and county governments’ epidemiologists and virologists.
Public Health CO Mr Samuel King’ori said Nakuru County currently has 200 beds in 5 County COVID-19 isolation facilities.
“We are working to meet the 300 beds capacity directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta before the end of June,” he stated.
He revealed that the County Government of Nakuru is targeting to have over 1,000 functional isolation beds in the next few months due to risks posed by long-distance truck drivers. Dr Philip Muthoka from the Ministry of Health’s Disease Surveillance and Response Unit commended the County for setting up strict public health measures against COVID-19 pandemic.
“Nakuru County has seen a slow rate of infection as compared to other, even smaller, urban centers. The measures are not to punish anyone but for your own good,” Dr Muthoka advised.
