Vihiga County has set aside five isolation units in health facilities across its sub-counties as it prepares for any suspected Ebola cases. Officials say more than 100 health workers have been trained to manage patients.

County Executive Committee Member for Health Services Dr Nicholas Kitungulu told the Kenya News Agency (KNA) that the isolation sites had been spread across the county so that suspected cases could be handled quickly wherever they turn up.

Where the units are

Vihiga County Teaching and Referral Hospital (VTRH), which serves Vihiga Sub-County, will host two of the units. Dr Kitungulu said the former mortuary area at the hospital had been earmarked for isolation because it sits away from the main hospital block. The other units are at Ipali Health Centre in Luanda, Bugina Health Centre in Sabatia and Jepkoyai Health Centre in Hamisi.

He said the national and county governments were working together on surveillance, including stepped-up screening and monitoring at strategic entry points into the county. He pointed to traffic from neighbouring Kakamega, where long-distance transport passes through.

"Those travelling from Kakamega County shall go through the roadblocks since they come from different countries while doing transportation," Dr Kitungulu said, according to KNA.

Police officers and medical staff have also been briefed on Ebola prevention, patient handling and response procedures, so that the two can work together if a case is reported.

Health workers trained in Eldoret

County Environmental Health Specialist Thomas Aliwa said more than 100 health workers had been trained. Five groups took part in a five-day course in Eldoret: surveillance and response teams, doctors, nurses and laboratory scientists. The training focused on how to manage Ebola patients safely and respond quickly when a case is suspected. Aliwa said more mobilisation and training would follow so that more staff are ready.

Dr Kitungulu urged residents to keep up personal and environmental hygiene and to report suspected cases to the nearest health facility.

New equipment for referral hospital

Separately, Governor Wilber Ottichilo received a consignment of medical equipment from the national government for the county's new Hospital Plaza at VTRH, KNA reported. The equipment, delivered through the Ministry of Health, includes anaesthetic machines, ventilators, vital signs and central monitoring units, centrifuges, laryngoscopes and three-function patient beds, along with trolleys, drip stands and other ward furniture.

Ottichilo thanked the national government and described the delivery as a significant milestone towards making the facility fully operational. More equipment is expected before the Hospital Plaza is commissioned. The handover was attended by Dr Kitungulu, Health Chief Officer Dr Mary Anyiendah and the chair of the County Assembly's Health Committee, Dr Fredrick Mavisi, among others.

National picture

Vihiga's measures are part of a wider push by counties to get ready since Kenya recorded its first imported Ebola case. On Monday, the Ministry of Health released the first 20 contacts from quarantine after they completed 21 days without symptoms. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has said the country could be declared Ebola-free if no new cases emerge during the required countdown.

Western Kenya's busy transport links to Uganda and the wider region put counties such as Vihiga on the front line of surveillance.

Photos: Kenya News Agency (Vihiga Health CECM Dr Nicholas Kitungulu; equipment handover at Vihiga County Teaching and Referral Hospital)