KMPDU says laxity to blame for increased Covid numbers

The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has attributed the rising number of Covid-19 cases to laxity.

It said many residents are violating preventive measures set in place since the first case of the virus was reported in the country in March 2020.

The rising cases, it notes, will lead to an increase in the country's caseload and eventually overwhelm an already “stretched healthcare system”.

The statement signed by acting secretary-general Dr Chibanzi Mwachonda (pictured) added that the healthcare system is stretched as there are inadequate ICU units and inadequate personnel.

The union says the county governments are the weak link in the ongoing fight against the virus.

Currently, there are 10 doctors admitted to various hospitals battling the virus. This comes as the union revealed the health sector continues to grapple with the shortage of doctors amidst the pandemic.

The union urged the national government through the Treasury and the Ministry of Health to fast-track the contract renewal process for 156 doctors who were hired to work in Covid-19 isolation and treatment centres.

The union says the low uptake of the vaccine by the healthcare workers can be attributed to non-involvement, sensitization, and awareness before pledging to embark on a nationwide campaign to increase the uptake.

The union also urged the national and county governments to scale up training, risk communication, and education to increase the uptake of the vaccine.

The address by KMPDU comes a day after Kenya recorded its highest ever positivity rate of 22 per cent since the first case of Covid-19 was recorded in Kenya.

Some 1,130 people tested positive from a sample size of 5,119. While addressing the media yesterday to update Kenyans on the Covid-19 numbers, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe reported 12 more deaths bringing the number of fatalities in the country to 2,024.

Addressing the low uptake of the vaccine, Kagwe noted that some healthcare workers had been turned away from vaccination centres since they do not work in the centres, saying all eligible persons can get the vaccine from any station.