Am I supposed to be in ICU for people to believe I have Covid-19? Jeff Koinange asks

Citizen TV news anchor Jeff Koinange on Wednesday hit out at those purporting that some people have been paid to pretend they have Covid-19.

While hosting JKL from his house, Koinange said many people were asking whether he is sick since he looked perfectly alright.

“By the way Daktari (Njenga), a lot of people are tweeting tonight saying is this guy sick? He doesn’t look Sick?

“Am I supposed to be on an IV drip in an ICU or in a morgue for people to realize I have COVID? What is wrong with people?” he asked.

Jeff, who revealed that he was now on day nine since testing positive, said he would go for another test in the next few days to monitor his progress.

In recent weeks, the Ministry of Health has called on Kenyans not to subject Covid-19 patients to stigma since anyone can contract the virus.

These sentiments were shared by Dr Frank Njenga who said some people still doubt whether there is Covid-19 since they do not know anyone who has contracted it.

“Jeff, people are just people until they see their friend or neighbour … and we saw this in what happened in relation to HIV/AIDS, until your cousin or your sister or your nephew, wife or even husband got infected or diagnosed it took years and years for people to understand that HIV was a reality in our community…

“I have seen people say, Hao wamelipwa pesa (they have been paid), it cannot be the case, but what they don’t know is that more than 80% of the people who get infected are completely asymptomatic like you Jeff…they will say how can he be Covid positive and still looking strong,” opined Njenga.

Jerotich Seii, a covid-19 patient, acknowledged that there is a lot of stigma surrounding the disease but she has received immense support from friends and family.

“On the 22nd of July is when I learnt that I was COVID-19 positive…it is important for those who have tested positive for COVID to come out and share it, you will be surprised at how much support is out there.

“I have had situations, where friends reach out to me, telling me they have been called by others who do not want to see them because perhaps they were in contact with me,” she said.