Governors have raised the alarm over lack of Covid-19 testing kits across counties, saying it is hampering efforts to curb spread of the virus.

Council of Governors (CoG) Health Committee chairman Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, yesterday said shortage of kits had slowed down Covid testing in various counties.

Consequently, Nyong’o said, counties have been left with no control over the rising number of infections. 

Speaking in Kisumu yesterday, the Kisumu governor said counties are no longer in crisis for beds in the Covid isolation and Intensive Care Unit wards, but are now faced with the dilemma over testing kits.

 He said currently, there are 7,751 beds in 142 isolation centres in 38 counties, out of which 6,890 are available and another 375 in ICU while 167 beds are in the High Dependency Units.

Factual situation

 Kisumu county boss stressed that availability of testing gadgets will ensure counties are able to properly document the magnitude of the disease within communities and give reports on factual situation, which will eventually trigger proper response measures.

 “The council, therefore urges the Ministry of Health to avail rapid testing kits and PCR Covid-19 testing equipment to all the counties to stem the spread of the virus,” Nyong’o said during a press briefing in Kisumu on Wednesday.  

Nyong’o further regretted that delayed disbursement of funds to counties has hampered their capacity to fight the virus efficiently.

 He said counties were owed Sh83 billion in equitable sharable revenue, a situation that had affected key services, including  procuring necessary ingredients needed in the management of Corona such as oxygen.  Some health facilities had run out of oxygen, he said.