Though Covid-19 struck fear in everyone, Kenyans with underlying health conditions were as vulnerable as the aged. Even working from home to avert contracting the coronavirus did not help matters for Dunstan Oketch, a communication expert with a local NGO. He had just undergone a minor surgery before Covid came calling last March and was under steroids to control inflammation.

Though working from home was a blessing in disguise, fear of contracting the virus overpowered him. Matters were made worse from info on social media that use of steroids compromises the immune system making one susceptible to contracting the virus.

The Ministry of Health officials had issued endless guidelines on diet and exercise making Oketch to believe diet would be one other savior considering “I have been under medication for a very long time to reduce my inflammation and I didn’t want to contract any other disease especially that I was weak already,” recalls Oketch.