All lorries transporting agricultural produce out of Elgeyo Marakwet will be fumigated at owner’s cost before they enter into the county.
The county health CEC Kiprono Chepkok said the county had taken the move after realizing that lorry drivers coming from Mombasa, Tanzania and other Covid-19 hotspot areas were becoming the weak link in the fight against combating the spread of coronavirus.
Chepkok who was addressing the press in Iten when he received donations from World Vision said the county being among the leading producers of potatoes receives many traders which puts the farmers at risk of infection.
He therefore called on farmers to ensure they don’t interact with the lorry drivers by ensuring that they (drivers) do not leave their vehicles when coming for the produce.
“We are also advising the farmers not to deal with cash but instead use mobile money like Mpesa as cash money is one of the ways the virus is spread,” he said.
Chepkok said recently one of the drivers had to be taken for testing after exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms though he tested negative saying if it had turned positive the situation would have been worrying given that he had come into contact with several farmers.
“We are urging farmers from potato growing areas of Kaptalamwa, Kapyego, Lelan, Kaptarakwa and others to be cautious when selling their produce,” he said.
He continued that following the move by the government to open hotel and restaurants in the country after testing their staff, maintaining social distance and having a thermal gun among others conditions, only one hotel in Soi North had brought its staff for testing.
“We are waiting for the results before we tour the hotel to ensure it has met all the conditions before it can be allowed to start operations,” he said.
The world vision county manager Moses Kiptugen said the organization had donated goods worth sh.7 million to be used in the fight against the Covid-19 adding that a further consignment worth sh.8 million was on the way.
He said among the items donated were 28 thermal guns to be used for initial screening, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), masks and liquid soap among others.
“This consignment also includes 200 tanks each with a capacity of 100 litres which will be placed strategically in various places in the county to ensure that residents access water for hand washing and also disposal bins with pedals to be used by medics to dispose waste,” he said.
Thanking the organization, the CEC who was flanked by the county speaker Philemon Sabulei said while all the health facilities have basic PPE’s the county was still in need of more in case of an infection.
