Kiambu County has launched the first Infection Prevention and Control Advisory Committee (CIPCAC) Action Plan 2022-2023.
Health CECM Dr. Joseph Murega said the IPC Action plan is aimed at preventing and controlling infections and transmission of infections in all health care settings and the community and is critical for a well-functioning health system.
“Many hospitals remain deficient in competent health care workers on infection prevention and there is an acute awareness of the need to correct this shortfall. Implementation of IPC guidelines are essential in all health care facilities for the wellbeing and safety of patients, staff, visitors and all who come within the scope of patient care activities” said Murega.
The health CECM added that the committee will train health practitioners in all the county hospitals and will also bring on board private health facilities in a bid to prevent harm caused by infection to patients, health workers, and the community.
He said no country nor health care facility, even within the most advanced and sophisticated health care systems, can claim to be free of the problem of health care-associated infections (HAIs).
“Many cases of infections occurring in a patient during the process of care in a hospital or other health care facility that was not present or incubating at the time of admission have since been reported hence the need to train health workers in both public and private hospitals on the same,” cited the county health CECM.
Infection Prevention and Control-IPC in health settings remains a vital quality standard for a well-functioning health system.
The development of the action plan will enable the equipping of health facilities, open up conditions for the mobilization of resources required for implementation of standard precautions to prevent and to contain healthcare associated infections.
The department of health partnered with Medicines, Technologies and Pharmaceutical Services- MTaPS, a USAID funded program to come up with the Action Plan.
In Kenya, the actual burden of Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) and Community-Associated Infection has not been accurately quantified, MOH has estimated that HAIs account for about 10-25 percent of hospital admissions, thus increasing mortality rate and prolonging the length of stay in hospitals.
The review Kenya National Strategic Plan for Infection Prevention and Control 2021-2025 was guided by the Kenya Health Policy 2012-2030 (KHP) and the National Infection Prevention and Control Policy for Health Care Services in Kenya 2015. This strategic plan seeks to fulfill the aspirations of the KHP of delivering quality and affordable health care to all Kenyans.
By Grace Naishoo
