The Ministry of Health on Tuesday maintained that Pumwani
Hospital shall remain open for complicated delivery cases.
During a visit by Acting Director-General of Health Dr
Patrick Amoth, the ministry confirmed that 41 members of staff had tested
positive for Coronavirus and have been taken to an isolation centre at the hospital.
Earlier, there were reports that the hospital’s medical
staff were on a go-slow over fears of contracting the virus at the facility and
the Ministry of Health advised patients to seek assistance from nearby health
facilities.
“Pumwani hospital shall remain open for complicated delivery
cases. In the meantime, patients can access maternal health care from the
adjacent health facilities,” read the statement in part.
Dr Amoth, however, assured Kenyans who want to visit the
facility that the hospital is safe.
“The hospital is safe, the staff who are working here are
properly trained and we’ll continue to give them support in terms of capacity
building and proper gear,” added Dr. Amoth.
Elsewhere, Kenyatta National Hospital has announced a number
of changes regarding visits to the facility.
As one of the centres charged with containing Covid-19, the
hospital stated that there will be strict controls for those who intend to
access the facility.
According to a statement signed by KNH CEO Dr Evanson
Kamuri, the move is aimed at decongesting the hospital and to ensure social
distancing.
Going forward:
- Patient
visitation is not allowed and only family/relatives of patients who have
been contacted by the hospital will be given access for purposes like
blood/organ donations, bill payment and discharge of patients.
- Only
one relative per patient will be allowed access to facilitate the stated
purposes.
- All
persons allowed access to the hospital must wash or disinfect their hands
using alcohol-based sanitizers, wear masks and practice social distancing.