Local leaders resist move to host coronavirus victims in Bondo
Eric Juma
The choice of Bondo Sub-County Hospital to host Covid-19 patients has been resisted by the region’s leaders.
The County Health Management and Emergency Response Committee jointly chaired by County Commissioner Michael ole Tialal and Governor Cornel Rasanga had identified the Bondo hospital as a designated centre an issue that has been opposed by leaders including Opposition leader Raila Odinga.
A reliable source said the leaders have asked healthcare sector management to choose hospital at the peripheral part of the county for that purpose.
“The facility serves lots of patients from Bondo and its environs and it would be wrong to designate it for Covid-19 victims,” he said adding that Raila was so angry when he received information that people now fear going to Bondo hospital for they fear contracting virus.
Its reported that a woman who allegedly turned positive to the virus and was equally suffering from pneumonia was ferried to Bondo hospital for further treatment.
The response team had settled on Uranga, Siaya and Bondo Kenya Medical Training College as key quarantine centres while the Bondo hospital reserved for the victims treatment.
According to Siaya health officer who sought for anonymity, we landed on Bondo hospital after establishing that it had met requirements as per guidelines issued to us by the Ministry of Health.
“We do not want the issue to be politicised or be drawn into health politicking as that is likely to thwart our bid to fight the pandemic,” she added.
