This archive report was first published on 5 June 2020.
Kenya's healthcare system is facing a daunting challenge as the number of Covid-19 cases continues to soar. According to reports, designated hospitals for the virus are quickly filling up, leaving patients without access to care.
As of Friday, the 71-bed Alupe Isolation centre in Busia County had 98 patients, while the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral, and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), a 300-bed hospital, had only three beds left.
Informal settlements in Nairobi, including Kibra, Mathare, Kawangware, Lang'ata, and Eastleigh, are among the worst affected areas. To address the shortage, the Nairobi Metropolitan Service has designated Mama Lucy Hospital as a Covid-19 isolation facility.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe acknowledged that the initial isolation centres are full and the ministry is considering home-based and community care, provided it adheres to WHO protocols.
However, some patients who have tested positive for the virus are now complaining that health officials are not responsive, with some cases arising of patients who have not been transferred to hospitals promptly despite developing moderate and severe symptoms.
Speaking to The Nation on Thursday, a 40-year-old woman who recently tested positive for Covid-19 shared her harrowing experience of waiting for four days to visit a nearby clinic after developing symptoms.
