By MN Reporter

A Sh18million renal unit launched by governor Okoth Obado in 2018 has been a blessing in disguise to patients amid effects of coronavirus across the country.

The center at Migori referral hospital has seen high number of patients in the wake of coronavirus pandemic forcing it to extend working hours and add more staff.

Speaking to Migori News, county health chief officer Dr. Dalmas Oyugi said with the Covid 19 outbreak the number has increased to 35 patients weekly, from low numbers.

“For the past few days, we have witnessed an  influx of patients forcing us to run our dialysis daily.We have expanded our services at the dialysis center and extended working hours to cater for the current influx of kidney patients,” Dr. Oyugi noted.

He said because of Covid 19, patients who used to travel outside Migori for services and those from other places like Nairobi have chosen to come home for medication.

“We used to transfer additional patients to Kisumu, Tenwek and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret before the county government procured the machine. We are not taking chances knowing that patients with chronic illnesses may be predisposed to new infections hence the call to have them stay at home,” he noted.

He urged patients to book appointment for dialysis since the machine can only attend to three patients a day.

 “We can only handle patients who have registered and should we face more cases in the coming weeks then our machine may be overwhelmed, “ he said.