Equity Group Foundation and the Kenya COVID-19 Fund Board on Thursday said they are supporting Kenya’s Covid-19 response by donating personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers to 25 mission hospitals.
The hospitals are affiliated with the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK).
The PPEs are valued at Ksh 33 million and include 750 protective goggles, 25,000 disposable gowns, 500,000 nitrile gloves, 500,000 surgical masks, 750 face shields, 12,500 disposable scrubs, 25,000 headcovers, 5,000 coveralls and 50,000 KN95 respirator masks.
“Through KCCB and CHAK, we received a request to support 60 mission hospitals across Kenya. As EGF and the COVID-19 Fund Board, we have seen it prudent to make an initial donation to those mission facilities with active COVID-19 isolation units that are currently managing the care of admitted patients,” Equity Group Managing Director and CEO, Dr James Mwangi said.
“We recognize the role played by mission hospitals in the fight against COVID-19 and in contributing to the access of affordable healthcare services in the country and are glad to offer a second layer of protection for our frontline healthcare workers.”
The second phase distribution will focus on the remaining 35 mission health facilities, which will benefit from an additional consignment of PPEs when their COVID-19 inpatient isolation and management units are actively in use.
The health facilities have established Hospital Liaison Committees to support the management of PPEs in each participating hospital. They are mandated to receive, distribute, oversee proper usage, and re-order to ensure consistent supply of the PPEs to the health care workers.
The Liaison committees for each hospital comprises of nominated representatives from Equity; and Healthcare worker representatives, a medical doctor, a clinical officer and a nurse who are members of their professional associations, together with the hospital’s stores in charge.
The distribution of locally manufactured PPEs is an initiative of Equity Group Foundation and the Kenya COVID-19 Fund Board as part of a coordinated effort to support frontline healthcare workers through the provision of PPEs.
