Out of 6,070 people who had been confirmed to be positive for Covid- 19 by Monday, 5,538 cases are local transmissions, accounting for 91 percent of the total case load.
The bulk of infections are recorded in Mombasa and Nairobi City Counties and these same counties have the highest infection rates of COVID-19, at 119.6 and 68.9 per 100,000 population respectively, when compared to 12.8 per 100,000 for the whole country.
Giving an update on the Covid situation in the country on Monday, Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr. Rashid Aman said that out of the 41 counties that have reported cases Nairobi still leads with 3,031 followed by Mombasa with 1,445.
“Busia, which has become a high risk county due to cross- border truck drivers is third with 407 and the situation of Kajiado with 242 cases, is similar to that of Busia, due to the effect of Namanga Border Point while Kiambu then follows with 222 cases and most of the remaining 36 counties have cases below 100,” the CAS said.
These numbers, Dr. Rashid noted suggest that it is only a matter of time before all the counties record a Covid-19 case saying this should strengthen people to strictly adhere to the containment measures, so as to prevent widespread infections within the counties.
He added that there has been accelerated efforts to develop diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines for Covid-19 and Kenyan scientists and public health professionals have been working to enhance the current level of knowledge about the virus.
“The Ministry of Health, through Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), has been on the lead on all local and international collaborative Covid-19 researches and the Ministry has been scientifically tracking all affected and exposed people in the country, and developing a knowledge-base that has led to developing Covid-19 testing strategies, management protocols and pandemic containment efforts.
Dr. Rashid confirmed that 120 people have tested positive for the disease from 2,221 samples tested bringing the total case load to 6,190 from 167,417 samples so far tested.
All the cases except (5) he added are Kenyans and 84 of them are males, while 36 are females and the youngest is a six (6) year old child, and the oldest is 83.
The cases are distributed in the counties with having Nairobi 67, Mombasa 17, Kajiado 9, Machakos 9, Kiambu 8, Uasin Gishu 4, Nakuru 2, Kilifi, 2, and Narok 2.
With regard to disaggregation of the cases by sub counties, Nairobi’s 67 cases are in Westlands, (12), Dagoretti North and Langata, (11) cases each, Kibra, (6), Makadara and Starehe, (4) cases each, Kamukunji, (3), Embakasi Central, Embakasi East, Embakasi North, Embakasi South, Embakasi West and Mathare, have (2) cases each, Kasarani, Roysambu, Ruaraka, and Umoja, have one (1) case each.
In Mombasa, the cases are in; Mvita (6), Jomvu (5), Changamwe, Kisauni and Likoni have (2) cases each. In Kajiado, the cases are in, Loitokitok, (6), and Kajiado North, (3), while in Machakos, the cases are in; Athi River (4), Machakos Town, (3) and Matungulu (2).
In Kiambu, the cases are in; Juja (3), Gatundu South, Githunguri, Kabete, Kikuyu and Limuru, have one (1) case each. In Uasin Gishu, the cases are in, Ainabkoi (2), Kapseret and Turbo, (1) case each. In Nakuru, the two (2) cases are in Naivasha, while in Narok the two (2) cases are in Narok North.
The CAS said that the government has discharged 42 patients from various hospitals, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,013 but has also lost one (1) more patient from the disease, bringing our fatality to 144.
The Public Health Director, Dr. Francis Kuria castigated those people who are pinpointing names and titles of people especially members of parliament, clergy or even the police who might have Covid.
“There is need for fighting stigma and it is not important to know how many parliamentarians are positive and therefore we are urging all for individual responsibility and therefore delink ourselves and talk about Kenyans infected,” Dr. Kuria said.
During the meeting, the CAS received donation of PPES amounting Sh 23.6 million (USD 223,000) from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Red Cross.
Dr. Rashid said that the PPE kits will go a long way in enhancing healthcare workers’ safety during provision of these key services and be distributed by the Kenya red cross in the counties of Nairobi, Kitui, Mombasa, Kwale, Migori, Lamu, Kisumu, Busia, Kilifi, Narok, Homa Bay, Marsabit, Isiolo, Mandera and Wajir, as well as family Health Options Kenya.
Speaking during the handing over of the Equipments, Dr. Ademola Olajide, the UNFPA United Nations Representative for Kenya said they are committed to work towards ensuring and bringing maternal gender violence to zero in partnering with the government by ensuring that services are given.
In addition to the PPEs, Dr. Olajide said that UNFPA is also providing Sh. 24 million to health ministry for continuation of services and additional Sh 20 million to the same selected counties so that health workers on the ground can provide services
“We are also Mobilizing Sh. 2.8 million to ensure we support the procurement of family planning commodities and ensure there is no gap,” he said.
Dr. Olajide noted that the Covid-19 pandemic has provided challenges across board as the country is seeing an increase in teenage pregnancies, gender based violence and controversy surrounding reproductive health Bill. “As UNFPA we will work to ensure that the rights of women and girls are addressed and protected,” he said.
Coronavirus pandemic has continued to cause unprecedented problems across the globe, not only overburdening health care systems, with a large number of fatalities, but also massive job losses that have destabilized family units. The current global disease burden is 9,962,193, with 498,723 deaths.
By Wangari Ndirangu
