This archive report was first published on 19 July 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across Kenya, the National Nurses Association of Kenya (NNAK) has taken a crucial step to safeguard the lives of nurses and other healthcare professionals. On July 19, 2020, the association announced the distribution of Sh200 million worth of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to healthcare workers across the country.
The initiative, undertaken in partnership with the Equity Group Foundation and the Kenya COVID-19 Fund, aims to provide necessary protection to healthcare professionals who are at the forefront of the pandemic response. The distribution of PPEs is part of NNAK's three priority measures to safeguard healthcare workers, which also include proper training and provision of psychosocial support.
NNAK's President, Alfred Abengo, emphasized the importance of providing necessary protective gear and training to health professionals. 'We urge the government to provide necessary protective gear and training to health professionals for this is critical in offering health services to Kenyans. Our nurses and midwives need to be secured, now more than ever,' he said.
The distribution of PPEs comes as Kenya records three fatalities among healthcare professionals, raising concerns on the safety of their working environment. The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, highlighting the critical role nurses and midwives play in the healthcare system.
