Ebola in Kenya: Doctors Say Country Not Ready as Suspected Case Turns Negative

• Kenyan doctors, through their Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union, said the country is not ready to fully fight Ebola
• In their proposals, KMPDU asked the Health Ministry to set up Ebola isolation centres and stock them up with necessary medical supplies
• At the same time, acting Health Director General Patrick Amoth said the suspected Kakamega Ebola case turned out negative

Kenyan doctors have implored the Ministry of Health to step up the country’s surveillance and preparedness in the event of an Ebola outbreak.

Through their Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU), the medics said, as it stands, the country is not ready to fully fight the contagious pathogen.

Weighing in on the matter, the union’s secretary general, Davji Atellah, regretted that the healthcare function in national and county governments was inadequate.

Read also

Doctor Succumbs to Deadly Ebola Virus While Attending to Patients in Uganda

“Fatality of Ebola is averagely 50% but it can go to 90% , so there is value to have a vibrant public health system so that if there is an outbreak, we can act on it,” said Atellah.

Containment measures

In their proposals, KMPDU asked the Health Ministry to set up Ebola isolation centres and stock them up with necessary medical and equipment supplies.

The union asked the ministry to train healthcare workers on response mechanisms when dealing with suspected or confirmed Ebola cases.

Further, it proposed increased surveillance at borders and points of entry.

The union also asked the ministry to deploy rapid response teams, which comprise epidemiologists, to track down the potential movements of the disease.

Lastly, KMPDU requested the government to increase the awareness of the disease to the public.

Suspected case tests negative

Read also

Scare in Kakamega after Patient Who Traveled to Uganda Manifests Ebola Symptoms

At the same time, acting Health Director General Patrick Amoth said the suspected Ebola case in Kakamega turned out negative.

Speculation was rife on Friday, September 30, that the patient, Gideon Ashibo, had developed Ebola-like complications and had been quarantined at Mumia’s St Mary’s Hospital.

According to a report from the hospital and which was spotted by this publication, the said patient had, on September 15, travelled to eastern parts of Uganda to visit a relative.

While in Uganda, the report adds, he got trauma and was cut at the right upper limb; he thus sought medical attention at a health facility in Uganda.

Advent of dreaded Ebola virus in Uganda

Ebola, a contagious pathogen, has so far killed five people in Uganda.

Authorities in Kenya’s western neighbour declared an outbreak a couple of weeks back.

Read also

Ebola Survivors Advised to Abstain from Intercourse for 90 Days

As of September 23, the total number of confirmed cases stood at 11 after four more infections were confirmed.

It was not immediately clear if the 11 cases included the four fatalities.

Source: TUKO.co.ke