This archive report was first published on 12 June 2020.
June 12, 2020 - In a significant development, Kenya's Ministry of Health has successfully discharged 208 COVID-19 patients who were part of a pilot home-based care program.
According to Dr. Francis Kuria, Head of Public Health, the patients were engaged under the program, which was launched to provide care for asymptomatic COVID-19 cases. The program aims to reduce the burden on hospitals and provide a safe environment for patients to recover.
Speaking at the government's daily briefing, Dr. Kuria emphasized the importance of community participation and the need to avoid stigmatization. He said, "We have released them back to the society. They are safe and they can interact with you, so there is no need for stigmatization. They are as good as you are."
The home-based care program was introduced after the government noted that it had become untenable to isolate all COVID-19 cases in hospitals due to the increased number of infections and the challenge in capacity at health facilities.
