Health

Locally made hospital beds to help coronavirus patients in Kenya

Nairobi (Kenya), Aug 7 (EFE / EPA), (Camera: Daniel Irungu).- Kenyan welder Meshack Otieno began making hospital beds in December 2018, in a bid to help patients who are bedridden in their homes and they cannot afford imported hospital beds.Since the pandemic began, Otieno has been working making hospital beds, which he assures, they are more durable compared to imported ones, as they use metal, and that they are also more affordable.FOOTAGE OF BEDS IN JUJA HOSPITAL, KiAMBU, KENYA.SOUNDBITES OF Meshack Otieno, WELDER:00:00 - 00:06 - "My name is Meshack Otieno. I am a welder in Juja."00:09 -00: 14 - "I make hospital beds and started making them in December 2018."00:15 - 00:23 - "The only reason I entered this sector is that I realized that there are many patients at home."00:24 - 00:33 - "They are patients who are at home and cannot walk or do anything unless they are catered for."00:34 - 00:42 - "I did not enter this business because of COVID-19 but to attend to our patients who are at home and can't import beds."00: 43-00: 51 - "That's why I got into this business, to make locally made Kenyan beds and help them."00:53 - 01:00 - "As a Kenyan, I have really been affected by the disease and it has affected everyone."01:06 - 01:15 - "I beg the county governments to support us, the Juakali artisans, so that we can make these beds, plenty of them so there are no shortages."01:17 - 01:29 - "COVID-19 has affected us as Kenyans and I would be very happy if the county and national governments source these beds from the Juakali artisans."01:30 - 01:35 - "Because I make these beds to the same standards of the imported ones."