Grief and pain engulfed Ober Boys High School after the principal succumbed to covid 19 last week. The principal held what is believed to be a staff meeting before his demise. One teacher who attended the meeting has since tested positive for the highly contagious disease.
According to the County Health Executive Richard Muga, the infected teacher is a 24 year-old is employed by the school’s Board of Management and stays in the school compound alone; since he is not married.
On 19th May, 2020, his principal (who has since succumbed to COVID-19) met him and others at Ober Boys High school.
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STAFF MEETING
The Principal, Maurice Muholo, had come from Migori County, Suna East Sub County on 19th May, 2020. The principal had come to hold a meeting to deliberate on a construction project in the school compound. The meeting was attended by five officers:The Principal, Deputy Principal, two other teachers who included the case at hand, and the School Bursar. This meeting took place on 19th May, 2020 at the school compound.
After the meeting, the principal went back to his home in Migori where he started feeling unwell. He sought medication from local health facilities in Migori County but his health continued to deteriorate.
AGAKHAN HOSPITAL COULDN’T ADMIT THE NOW DECEASED TEACHER
Later, he was referred to Agakhan Hospital in Kisumu but because of lack of comprehensive insurance, Agakhan could not admit him. He was then taken to Inuka Hospital in Kisumu where he succumbed on arrival.
When the test was done on 1st June, 2020 he turned out to be covid-19 positive.
On 2nd June, 2020, county Commissioner alerted the Homa Bay County Incident Management of the death of the Principal.
The County Incident Management (CIMC) with assistance of the County Commissioner, area chief and Assistant Chief, together with the Sub County Incident Management team launched a search for the principals’ contacts.
HOME BASED QUARANTINE FOR CLOSE CONTACTS
On 3rd June, the CIMC put the four under Home Based self-Quarantine because each of them live in independent quarters. Samples from the four individuals were (on June 5) were taken to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in Kisumu and on 6th June, one of the four cases was confirmed to have contracted the disease.
The teacher has since been taken to Malela isolation centre for treatment.
Meanwhile, the County incident management is executing a contact tracing operation; ranging from places that the teacher frequented; shops, mama mboga, butcheries and banking facilities in Ober and Oyugis where the Principal transacted business on 19th May, 2020.
Please receive our hearty sympathies and condolences.
