This archive report was first published on 24 June 2020.
As of June 24, 2020, Kenya's healthcare workers are facing a growing crisis as they struggle with Covid-19 infections and shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE).
According to the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), 87 healthcare workers have contracted the virus, with some being forced to go into home-based care before even taking tests.
Mr. Seth Panyako, the Secretary-General of the Kenya National Union of Nurses (Knun), claimed that the special isolation ward for healthcare providers at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) is full, and some are being forced to reuse masks for up to a week.
Dr. Chibanzi Mwachonda, the acting secretary-general of the KMPDU, stated that defective or inadequate PPE is the biggest threat to healthcare workers, with shortages of N95 masks, surgical gowns, and goggles.
He also alleged that some substandard PPE in the market further endanger healthcare workers, with some members complaining about reusing masks for three days to one week in some counties.
The unionists are calling for urgent action to address the grievances of healthcare workers, including the provision of adequate PPE, deployment of more staff, and payment of salaries and benefits.
Mr. Howard Catton, the chief executive officer of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), noted that many countries have not been submitting information about healthcare providers who have contracted the virus, making it difficult to track the spread of the disease.
