Fear as four medical officers test positive of covid-19 in county hospital

The news of four medical officers who have tested positive for Covid-19, has sent jitters to workers at Uasin Gishu district Hospital .The hospital is reported to have 138 health care workers.

Speaking to the press in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu County Workers Union Chair Mr. Isaac Talam said the workers in the facility are worried as the four might have interacted with them hence spreading the virus.

“At least four health workers have been reported to have tested positive of Covid-19 and that is what worries the health workers in the facility,” said Talam.

He added that workers in the facility have been left in fear with no proper direction.

Isaac Talam uasin Gishu county workers union chair addressing the media in Eldoret Photo: Edmond Kipng’eno

He wants the healthcare workers in the district Hospital offered psychosocial support.

“The healthcare workers need psychosocial support as the disease is sending jitters as majority of them have not been tested for Covid-19 ,”added Talam.

Talam is now dismayed with the management citing that they have not adhered to the protocols of combating Covid-19.

“No testing has been done according to the protocols,” he said

Talam, who is also the chair of Kenya Medical Practitioners Union , Uasin Gishu Branch further said,”we need the reagents availed within the shortest time possible so that those who have not been tested can receive testing to avoid fear which has crippled them.”

Beatrice Wamboi Kariuki, who is the KMPDU Uasin Gishu county branch secretary added that there is insufficient Personal Protection Equipments (PPEs) which puts the patients and the healthcare workers at risk.

“If enough PPEs are availed, it could be better because we attend to around 400 to 700 patients in a day,” said Mrs. Kariuki.

This comes as the number of those infected with Covid-19 surpasses 22,000 mark countrywide while recoveries is at 8,740 from 318,376 cumulative sample tests done as of yesterday.