KNH sets up 20-bed Ebola isolation unit as Kenya is declared 'high-risk'

The National Government is concerned that health workers in some counties have threatened industrial action due to delayed salaries at a time the country is under heightened threat of an Ebola outbreak that has killed more than 1,000 people in West Africa.

Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said he has been in touch with leaders from the affected counties to make sure health workers are in place and motivated in the eventuality of an Ebola outbreak.

"We would want the outstanding issues sorted out immediately so that they stay focused in case of an Ebola outbreak," he said yesterday.

As a last resort, Mr Macharia said he would talk to the Treasury to have health workers paid their salaries and other dues direct from Treasury through his ministry to avert strikes at this crucial moment.

"That is how serious we are," he told The Standard after a meeting in Nairobi where the Government gave a briefing on preparedness to respond to the deadly virus.

Health services were devolved and county governments are in-charge of paying salaries. Nurses have also vowed to go on strike citing unpaid allowances.

Kenya has been classified as a "high-risk" country by the World Health Organisation (WHO) becuase it is a transport hub with numerous flights to West Africa.

Wednesday, WHO's representative in Kenya Custodia Mandlhate said the country had been classified at Category II because of the high number of air travellers between Nairobi and West African.

According to Macharia, Nairobi serves 76 weekly flights to West Africa greatly exposing the country to the possibility of an infected passenger entering into the country.

Category I (One) risk countries include those which directly share boundaries with the affected countries of Liberia, Guinea Conakry, Sierra Leon and Nigeria.

Despite this immediate and real danger of importing the virus to the country, neither the Government nor national carrier Kenya Airways have immediate plans to ground flights to and from the affected countries.

Apart from Kenya Airways, other airlines frequently serving West Africa through Nairobi are Ethiopian Airlines and Rwanda Air.

"Banning air travel may not be the ultimate solution because travellers can still fly in from alternative destinations considering the disease can take up to 20 days before any symptoms can be picked up," said Dr Mandlhate.

Mr Macharia said the country has boosted surveillance at all entry points where so far 10,000 travellers have been screened. He said the Government has purchased 5,000 protective gear for health and entry point workers who may come into contact with infected people.

So far a 20-bed isolation unit has been set up at Kenyatta National Hospital. This capacity will be raised to 100 beds by Friday while another similar unit will be ready in the next few days at Mbagathi District Hospital in Nairobi.

Such units may also be set up in Uasin Gishu, Busia, Kajiado, and Mombasa counties, he said. Some 100 health workers have been trained on how to handle Ebola patients and another 200 more will be trained in the next three weeks.

In the affected West African countries, dozens of health workers including two Americans and a Spanish Health worker have been infected with some already having succumbed to the virus.

However, Mr Macharia is concerned that some health workers may not want to handle Ebola patients either for fear of infection or just bad attitude towards patients.

"We picked those we have trained from a special group known for their professionalism and dedication to the ideals of their 'call to serve.' This group has been trained on how to protect themselves while also extending care to Ebola patients with empathy," he said.

He challenged all health workers to be professional and live up to their oath of duty.

During the meeting organised by WHO and attended by Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer designate Mbuvi Ngunze, Kenya Airports Authority boss Lucy Mbugua it emerged that air travel plans will be reviewed as the situation unfolds.

"As a last resort we could restrict air travel if for any compelling reasons this may be warranted in future," said Macharia.

The Director of Medical Services Nicolas Muraguri urged Kenyans to report to health services in case of suspicions or with flu like symptoms especially if the person had travelled to the affected countries or was in contact with persons from the region.