COVID-19’s Continued Impact in Kenya

Equipment at the AMPATH Clinical Lab at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret is now being utilized to test for COVID-19. However, no additional cases have been confirmed at MTRH beyond the single case identified several weeks ago. MTRH provides testing for patients from throughout twenty-two counties in western Kenya that have been assessed and confirmed to meet the case definition criteria for COVID-19. 

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Throughout Kenya, as of April 25, there are 343 confirmed cases and 14 people have died as a result of the virus. Ninety-eight patients are reported to have recovered as well. Coronavirus cases in Kenya continue to be most prevalent near Nairobi, Mombasa and counties along the coast. Travel restrictions continue in these areas. Throughout the African continent, 29,422 cases have been confirmed. 

Obtaining enough personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing commodities such as nasal swabs and reagents continues to be a country-wide effort with both domestic and international sources being pursued.   

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MTRH has been approached to participate in the Solidarity Trial, an international randomized controlled trial of additional treatment for COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO) through the Ministry of Health. AMPATH investigators are also proposing other research efforts including biobanking of specimens; using the AMPATH electronic medical records system to measure the impact of the pandemic on HIV services as well as track the evolution of coronavirus; and conducting surveys to measure the impact of COVID-19 on adults with HIV, TB and mental illness as well as adolescents with HIV.

People throughout Kenya are encouraged to stay home when possible, practice social distancing and are required to wear fabric masks when in public. The country-wide curfew continues from 7 p.m.-5 a.m. daily as does the discontinuation of international flights. Both emotional and economic stress are increasing as many workers in the informal sector are unable to earn an income under the social isolation measures. The Ministry of Health has established a counseling framework and urges anyone needing mental health help to call the 1199 hotline.

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“The long-term economic impact is going to be significant for many of the people that AMPATH serves,” said Adrian Gardner, executive director of the AMPATH Consortium of North American partners.  He added that AMPATH is grateful for the increased generosity and flexibility of both individual and corporate supporters which allows AMPATH to continue to support the most vulnerable populations most impacted by the shutdowns.

Although most of AMPATH’s North American faculty members are now engaged in clinical care at their home institutions, they continue to collaborate with their Kenyan colleagues on education, research and public health efforts, as well as exploring opportunities to assist with equipment and supply needs from a distance.

 AMPATH’s Kenyan partners continue to provide non-COVID critical service delivery. This includes care for diabetes, mental health, oncology and HIV patients with efforts to extend prescriptions and follow-up visits to try and minimize interaction and coordinating as much as possible by phone. 

Professor Sylvester Kimaiyo, AMPATH executive director of care programs and the Chief of Party of the USAID-funded AMPATHPlus program, expressed appreciation for AMPATH supporters saying, “We are all together in one world. I really appreciate all of you.”

Photo: Kenya Ministry of Health

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