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| photo: Isiolo Governor Dr. Mohamed Abdi Kuti addressing the press about the steps his administration has undertaken to cushion the people of Isiolo County from the worst effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic. He was accompanied by Isiolo County Commissioner. |
There is a reason for the residents of Isiolo county to take a deep sigh of relief as latest study undertaken by a regional think thank,the Institute of Economic Affairs(I.E.A) Kenya ranked Isiolo county as one of the seven safest counties in the country after careful analysis of the available data regarding the health systems in place across all the 47 counties.
The institute used 14 indicators to gauge the health system of each county on parameters such as the budgetary allocation individuals commit to the health sectors, healthcare workers per 100000 population, underlying health issues such as diabetes, HIV et cetera among others also revealed that the five most vulnerable counties are Siaya, Vihiga,Kitui,Kwale and Homabay. The research revealed that ''these vulnerable counties had fragile health systems and are inhabited by people whose health indicators make them an easy target for the virus.'' The study also involved the number of people in the counties who owned Mobile phones hence are able to get information and updates on the virus which Isiolo scored better, too.
Isiolo county has one of the highest ratio of Nurses below age 60 to 10000 in the country which stands at 5.2 with only Nairobi(9.7), Uasin Gishu(8.5) and Tharaka Nithi(7.9) scoring better.
The author of the report Mr. Kwame Owino however warned that it should not be interpreted to literally mean that the low risk high capacity(the safest) counties should be ignored while shifting attention to the high risk low capacity(the most vulnerable ones).
The report also maintains that Nairobi and Mombasa which are the epicentres of the virus are the riskiest counties but have sound health systems in place to deal with the pandemic and have the highest concentration of health workers which makes them a high risk high capacity region.
Isiolo county is among a handful of counties whose health system is running on Universal Health Coverage which translates to affordable health care for the local residents.
The current administration of Governor Dr. Kuti who ran on the banner of transforming the local healthcare systems has been investing heavily in the health sector with all the major health facilities' within the county being upgraded hence expanding their capacity in addition to partnering with several private organisations whose support have radically improved the service delivery at local health facilities.
It is also noteworthy that Isiolo's progress in the health sector did not come as a knee jerk reaction to the pandemic but rather a set of long term strategies that are only coming to fruition during this period of uncertainty.
However, we insist that this good ranking should not make us complacent to the guidelines laid down by both local and national government in fighting COVID-19 and should rather encourage us to reinforce it further by religiously following the rules of social distancing, hand washing and using a face mask whenever we go out in the public.
Check the story via the link below as covered by Daily Nation👇
Daily Nation
by ICBN Team
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