Amref Distances Themselves From The Standard Report That Projected 2M Deaths In Kenya From Covid-19

The Standard Newspaper on Tuesday ran a story sensationally claiming that a story by Amref was projecting that between 800K-2M people could die from the Covid19 pandemic that had already claimed over 120K lives worldwide and above 24K in the US of the tone of this publication.

In the US, a computer model used by the White House projected close to 82,000 COVID-19 deaths in the United States by August 4, assuming the country implements full social distancing until the end of May.

The 81,766-death projection is a slightly less grim figure than the 93,531 cited earlier by the Trump administration. The model projected that the country may need fewer hospital beds, ventilators and other equipment than previously estimated, and that some states may reach their peak of COVID-19 deaths sooner than expected.

Kenya has earlier projected upto 100,000 infections by the middle of April according to a model announced by Dr. Amoth, however, Kenya is lucky to have just crossed above 200th mark with only 9 deaths.

Standard’s doom story reflects the horror projections from the Gates where Bill had earlier on said upto 2M people would die of Covid19 in Africa. Impatient wife Melinda also told the media recently that the deaths in Africa are relatively lower since the testing is not rapid.

She warned that soon Africans will be dropping dead in the streets as coronavirus sweeps the continent. Another doom one.

Below is the report by the Standard Newspaper projecting 800,000 deaths.

1. The Standard

A freshly released study from Amref Health Africa Africa has projected that between 800,000 and 2 million Kenyans could die of coronavirus in case of a full-blown crisis.

According to the study, most of the people who will die from the respiratory disease are those aged above 65 years and the deaths are estimated to hit 878,988.

The 2019 population census caps the number of this population (above 65 years) at 1.46 million.

Among those who will be hardest hit are those in this age bracket and are suffering from diseases like cancer, hypertension and diabetes.

According to the experts, Kenya has a prevalence of 86,596 cancer cases out of which some 51,957 patients are likely to be directly affected by the pandemic.

Data shows that even countries with robust healthcare systems have 50% of people with severe coronavirus succumb to the infection.

However, in a quick rejoinder, Amref has distanced themselves from the sensational report by the newspaper saying that’s not an official position of the organization.

Dr Githinji Gitahi, Amref Health Africa CEO, has denied the claims saying that was a mere opinion of an official in the organization that shouldn’t be taken as an official position.

ASSOCIATION DENIED: Let me be clear that article associated with @Amref_Worldwide by the @StandardKenya is not our position but INDIVIDUALLY owned by one of our staff @joachimosur Prof of @AmrefUniversity Our position is minimum transmission,minimum death,minimum harm! Apologies pic.twitter.com/35oX46JyG5

— Dr Githinji Gitahi, MBS (@daktari1) April 14, 2020

Kenyans also shared their opinions on this opinion that the Standard pushed as an official position. We sample some of the comments below;

Nanyingi Mark: Just curious how a person whose runs “SEXOLOGY” clinic and writes profusely about sexual matters of his patients without confidentiality has suddenly grasped epidemiological models of forecasting COVID-19? Joachim(in ref to the Amref staff that Standard has talked to)  should be asked to provide explanations to his numbers?

Kalekye Kasina: I’m an independent health journalist but sometimes really get annoyed when my fellow journalists especially in mainstream media, which holds sway, misrepresent. What was so hard in calling AMFEF to know whether this was a shared view.

Lincoln Anwayi: The @StandardKenya needs to style up and check its editorial policy…every single day it comes up with headlines that spell doom or rather unnecessarily alarming..soon every one will not take you serious.

B. Malowa: @StandardKenya is reaching new lows in journalism ethics and basic fact checking. Can the few media houses with maximum access to decision makers etc., during #COVID19KE exercise professionalism? You country is counting on you.

Lukoye Atwoli(VP Kenya Medical Association): For the record I also expect that with proper control measures we should not see that many deaths, even if I keep urging that we prepare for the worst by ensuring our health facilities are properly equipped and staffed to handle any health challenge thrown at them.