The government has raised concerns that the lack of Covid-19 preparedness in lower-level health facilities is putting patients at risk of cross-infection.
This fear came out yesterday when the Health ministry announced the highest number of Covid-19 cases in 24 hours so far.
A total 278 people tested positive after 4,074 samples were analysed.
The case load countrywide now stands at 5,811 as the number of recoveries rose to 1,936 after 31 patients tested negative.
Four patients lost their lives, bringing the death toll to 141.
Earlier in the day, 125 patients were quarantined at the Shalom Hospital in Machakos County after three died from Covid-19.
One health worker and six other patients also tested positive for the virus in a suspected case of cross-infection.
The hospital was cordoned off and new admissions stopped. All the staff and patients will be tested for the disease as the Health ministry deploys medics with proper protective gear to the facility.
Health Chief Administrative Secretary Mercy Mwangangi said the incident showed there was cross-infection despite clear guidelines on how hospitals should ensure the safety of patients and staff as they resume normal services.
“This is a situation that can happen in any facility – whether public or private – if they do not put the measures in place,” Dr Mwangangi warned.
She said a team from the Health ministry had been deployed to the facility.
“The ministry reminds all county governments of the regulations that every county should have a dedicated healthcare facility for Covid-19 cases,” she said.
The incident has turned the spotlight on the level of preparedness of health facilities, especially those that are not designated as Covid-19 hospitals.
Facility categories
These are mainly facilities categorised as Level 2 to Level 4, which are primarily under county governments. Shalom Hospital is categorised as Level 4. The laxity in these lower-level facilities could be the result of regulations to have designated hospitals for Covid-19.
Then there is the fact that most patients are admitted to large and well-equipped referral facilities namely: Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi Hospital, Coast General Hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital and Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital.
These Level 5 and Level 6 hospitals have intensive care units where patients can receive expert care if they develop difficulty in breathing or suffer organ failure.
In critical care
As at Friday there were 18 patients in critical care spread across these facilities.
Director Public Health Francis Kuria said not all hospitals were designated Covid-19 facilities because there are guidelines and an inspection process that has to be done.
Dr Kuria said the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council would gazette the designated facilities countrywide next week.
“In the meantime, even if you are not a Covid-19 facility, you should still be equipped with enough personal protective equipment, just in case.”
Kuria said health workers need to handle every new patient with care because they could have the virus but not exhibit symptoms. “Anyone can walk in with malaria, but that still makes them susceptible to Covid-19.”
He, however, noted that it would not be possible to test every patient for the coronavirus disease due to lack of kits.