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{
"id": 1032944,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1032944/?format=api",
"text_counter": 208,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Makueni, WDM-K",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Daniel Maanzo",
"speaker": {
"id": 2197,
"legal_name": "Daniel Kitonga Maanzo",
"slug": "daniel-kitonga-maanzo"
},
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. Under Article 132 of the Constitution, one of the matters the President is expected to report on is any threat facing the nation. The President reported COVID-19, which is not only affecting Kenya but the whole world. It has affected every system of finance, business, education and governance. A lot of people have died of COVID-19. In fact, the second surge is more dangerous world over than the first outbreak. Now, almost every Kenyan knows someone who has been infected with COVID-19 or has passed on because of COVID-19. It is very clear that the economy of the country has been affected. The health system is highly affected. Doctors, nurses and healthcare trainees have died. Recently, you saw what happened to doctors who also expect to remain healthy. It is next to impossible to get an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bed. Patients have to wait. I am aware of a patient who died outside Kenyatta National Hospital awaiting an ICU bed and another one was awaiting an ICU bed at Karen Hospital. A friend was awaiting in a different hospital. They were totally unable to get a place they could be assisted. They stopped breathing. The case of Dr. Ashraf is even worse because he has been on the frontline taking care of patients. Unfortunately, those with blood groups A and B world over have had a worse chance with COVID-19 than those with blood group O. The chests of those with blood groups A and B close up quickly and they are unable to breath within a short time because of blood clot. It has been very difficult for them. The same case applies to schools. Fifteen principals are now reported dead. Of course, the principals will have interacted with parents and students. The world over students are carriers. They may not be completely affected, but they carry this disease to teachers and parents. Not many deaths of teachers and parents have been reported wherever schools have opened the world over. There are over 5,000 patients being treated at home. In the homes of those 5,000 patients, there are students. Such families know very well that they have an infected person with whom the child has interacted, but they allow the child to go to school to interact with other children and teachers. As a nation, we must take this matter more seriously, especially now that we plan to open schools fully. It is very important that money be released to NG-CDF so that the Fund can intervene as the President suggested to make sure every school has a water tank and children can constantly wash their hands. At the same time, soaps and sanitisers should be provided, so that there is total cleanliness in schools. Unless the Government, through the Ministry of Education, releases funds to expand classes and buy more desks, we expect a lot more deaths in January if we open schools with the current status. Loss of a single life, including that of a student, teacher or parent, is tragic. We have to be more serious as a country, more so on how we handle people on the frontline. If doctors go on strike, then we will have a bigger crisis than we have now. It is upon all of us, the Government, the Ministry of Health and companies through corporate social responsibility, to make sure there are masks in every school, home and institution. Masks reduce the spread of COVID-19 by 90 per cent. Secondly, we should make sure there is cleanliness because it reduces the spread of the disease. I want to thank the President for what he presented before the House. I hope that all the ministries and departments will take it upon themselves to prevent COVID-19 from destroying this country any further. I thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker."
}