By Okong’o Oduya
Busia County, Kenya: Professionals in Busia County have noted with a lot of concern on the state of covid-19 quarantine centers.
According to them – Busia Professional Association through their chairman Professor Chris Ngacho, all the centers in the county are ill equipped and arresting people and putting them there will cause more harm than any good.
There has been concerns from the public after a photo of a woman and an infant went viral on social media. The woman was arrested and put at a quarantine centre with no basic needs. She was later released after human rights groups intervened.
“We are disturbed by the state of some of our isolation and quarantine centers. The kisoko case in Nambale Sub-County could definitely be handled with human face. To this end we call upon the county Government to make sure these centers meet the laid down guidelines by the National Emergency Response Committee on covid-19,” he said.
He challenged Busia County leadership to equip all the quarantine facilities with basic needs such as bedding, and food before admitting anybody there.
He urged Busia people to adhere to the regulations by the government by not going out during the curfew period, adding that all these issues are arising because the people are going against the 7pm-5am curfew.
He however is asked police force not to use excessive force when carrying out the order.
“I wish to call upon our people, if government issues and order, please, adhere to it this will help fight against the corona pandemic and will reduce cases of conflict between the citizens and the law enforcers.
But police officers should also show some human face when handling these cases. Someone can be genuinely late for some minutes, try and listen to him or her before taking any action against the person. They should not use excessive powers when carrying out the order,” he noted.
Ngacho applauded the elected leaders in the county for doing what they can in fighting the pandemic.
According to him every market center in Busia has water tanks and washing soaps, people are putting on masks which were donated by the area leaders.
Although he said more still need to be done in fighting the disease. He asked the leaders not to give up their support in eradicating the spread of the disease.
In relation to floods and Lake Victoria backflow in Budalangi, Ngacho said dykes on Nzoia River have failed to address the perennial flooding problem.
He called upon the national government to construct a big dam in Lugare in Bunyala to help arrest the floods being witnessed in the areas yearly.
“Floods and the lake Victoria backflow continue to wreck havoc to many families, Budalangi and parts of Teso north and south are worst affected. The dykes in Bunyala for instance have failed to address the perennial flooding problem. We are however calling the national government to construct a large dam in Bunyala to arrest these floods,” he said.
As a way to address Lake Victoria water backflow professor said there is need to regional governments that shares resources from Lake Victoria to be monitored on how they are utilizing the resources such as water from the lake.
According to Ngacho, the first backflow by Lake Victoria was witnessed in 1963 on the onset of the construction of Bujugali dam in Uganda and with its completion in 2012 along river Nile; he believes it should be the major cause of water backflow.
Maureen Ayodi, Bupa member, questioned the manner in which police officers handled the woman and detain her at Kisoko quarantine center.
According to Ayodi, the fact that the woman was asthmatic with a small child they would have let her go, or offer an assistant that will make her stay in conducive environment
She wanted police officers to asses certain situations before taking any action on them.
Ms. Jackyn Namadi an environmentalist in the association called upon both National and County governments to find and alternative place to relocate those living in lower areas of Budalangi that have been affected by the floods.
Namadi says floods caused by heavy rains and backflow from Lake Victoria has seen better part of Budalangi rendered a no go zone leaving the residents vulnerable to waterborne diseases.
“Budalangi, like other areas around Lake Victoria is flooded leaving residents in needy situation. Therefore as Bupa we are calling upon both national and county governments to come in and find an alternative place to those affected. They need food, they need shelter, they need medicine, and what can we do to help them?” She paused.
