Kenya Is At A Tipping Point, KMPDU Warns As 10 Doctors Hospitalized With COVID-19

10 doctors are admitted to various health facilities as the new Covid-19 third wave continues to take a toll on medical practitioners.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) said as the country records soaring infections, so is the number of healthcare workers.

KMPDU acting Secretary-General Dr Chibanzi Mwachonda says the country is at a tipping point of the pandemic which he blames on laxity in adherence to the Covid-19 protocols.

“This month has recorded an increase in healthcare workers infection, there are currently 10 doctors admitted in various facilities across the country and this indicates the need for extra precaution by members of the public seeking healthcare services in our hospitals,” he said during the 11th brief on the pandemic.

“The acute shortage of doctors across the country is detrimental to health services delivery amidst the pandemic” citing counties as the weakest link to the COVID-19 response.

Last Saturday, the medical fraternity was Saturday thrown into mourning following the death of  Dr Kenneth Mutuma who worked at Mbagathi hospital due to COVID-19 complications.

While calling for the protection of the frontline workers, he urged County governments to address grievances at the workplace to avoid industrial unrest and provision of PPE’s.

COVID-19 Vaccination

He further decried the low uptake of the AstraZeneca vaccine that is being rolled out across the country, a scenario he attributed to lack of awareness amongst healthcare workers.

“KMPDU supports the Vaccine roll-out by the Ministry of Health, we note that the low uptake and hesitancy is due to the non-involvement, sensitization and awareness amongst healthcare workers. The ministry of health and county governments should scale up training and risk communication and education to tackle vaccine hesitancy through the healthcare workers representative bodies” he stated.

The union will embark on a nationwide campaign to increase vaccine uptake by engaging its membership.