This archive report was first published on 3 August 2020.
As of August 3, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the medical fraternity in Kenya, with over 500 medics testing positive for the virus.
Dr. Chibanzi Mwachonda, the acting Secretary-General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists' Union, has become the latest medical practitioner to test positive for the virus.
Speaking to Spice FM, Dr. Mwachonda revealed that he is currently in the mild stage of the disease and is undergoing home-based care.
“This was not the first test I had done; others previously were negative. The last one I had done was on July 17, and this one I did on July 27, 10 days later,” Dr. Mwachonda explained.
He attributed his initial symptoms to a workout he had done over the weekend, but the pain persisted, leading him to take a COVID-19 test.
“I had been working out over the weekend, so I thought it was because of the workout, but the pain was quite intense, and I knew this was not a characteristic of a normal workout pain,” Dr. Mwachonda said.
Dr. Mwachonda emphasized the importance of being aware of the varying symptoms of COVID-19, which can include loss of taste and smell, sore throat, and excessive fatigue.
“Most of us are now accustomed to fever and cough, but it can start in a very funny way, especially excessive fatigue, muscle ache, and you wouldn’t think it’s COVID-19,” he said.
Dr. Mwachonda also highlighted the stigma surrounding COVID-19, which has led many to shy away from speaking publicly about their diagnosis.
“For the close people I could not think twice; it was about protecting them given the way the disease spreads. Also, given that they have families, it was just about informing them either they test now or after a few days,” he added.
According to the World Health Organization, patients who present mild illness may not require hospitalization, but home-based care can be feasible after a trained healthcare worker has conducted an assessment.
Dr. Mwachonda emphasized the importance of adhering to precautions, including hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, environmental cleaning, and limitations on movement.
“The symptoms come on and off. Earlier on, I had a sore throat that was like a tight grip on my throat that has since now gone, now I have a cough. I am also asthmatic, that was my biggest worry,” he said.
Dr. Mwachonda advised that one must make a choice between focusing on the negative or positive aspects of the situation and move forward with life.
“I made a decision that I will not sit and look at the negative side of it and I stopped reading about COVID-19. Reading was making me be excessively cautious of everything that I feel in my body and I started looking through at the diagnosis,” he added.
On Sunday, Kenya recorded 690 new infections, bringing the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 22,053.
Dr. Mwachonda emphasized the need for the government to set up a call center dedicated to handling symptoms, which would help people become aware of the disease.
“At this time when we have community spread, a lockdown won’t help much because the disease is at community spread. What we need to do is to make sure our health system is well prepared to handle the patients,” he said.
