This archive report was first published on 11 June 2020.
On June 10, 2020, the Ministry of Health launched a home-based isolation and care programme for Covid-19 patients, which includes monitoring close family members for 14 days.
According to the guidelines, household contacts will fill in a symptom monitoring schedule for the period a patient will be on home-based isolation and care, stating Covid-19-related symptoms and temperature for the 14 days.
The symptoms include coughing, difficulty in breathing, fever, sore throat, general body fatigue, headache, and sneezing.
The data collection tool is a component of the ministry's 'Jitenge' monitoring system, which is an at-home Covid-19 short code and text message-based system created for the purpose of monitoring household contacts, the patient, and those discharged.
Healthcare workers in charge of isolation homes, apartments, or institutions will file weekly reports on the progress of the released patients and their kin, which should be uploaded to the system for further oversight and action.
Healthcare workers may also visit homes where necessary, and the workers should submit monthly follow-up reports on discharged patients, which should reach the Kenya Health Information System by the fifth of every month.
The reports will then be analysed, and the ministry will give responses or take action in collaboration with devolved governments where necessary.
