BY EMMANUEL GATHECA
I write this as a trained medic with reference to the Ngara Medical Centre scenario.
A clinical officer got infected with Covid-19 through close contact with her client who sought treatment at the facility.
She subsequently may have transferred it to other 1,600 clients as well as her colleagues.
It is evident that our medics are either not properly prepared and educated or not well equipped to handle the challenges posed by Covid-19.
It is dangerous that they are not even able to protect themselves from contracting the virus.
Strategies just like when a country goes to war with an enemy are key elements that must be discussed by the Armed Forces and different approaches to combat the enemy reached, shared and executed.
The scenario we have today with COVID-19 is not different, only that this time the fight is spearheaded by the medical fraternity ‘army.’
In fact, it is obvious that, if the Ngara case is anything to go by, our health service providers may act as a channel of infections or transmission of this virus.
The worst will be medics in their line of duty picking up the infection and taking it home to the people they toil for daily.
I suggest that as soon as possible, a plan be formulated where a team of medics may be facilitated to go into “camp” with all privileges that are assigned to an army during war for the projected duration that we are to deal with this menace.
The National Security Council should consider having a top medic or a scientist sitting with them to advise them on ‘biological weapons’ and such crises that may arise.
This should be done with a view to establish a Medical Disaster response team or agency equal or parallel to the Disaster Management Team to handle biological disasters that may pose a threat to Kenyans.
As much as some of the proposals above may be long term, my emphasis goes to the first proposal on assembling National and County ‘medical armies’ that will pledge to be in camp and respond to Covid-19 and other medical cases as they arise.
EMMANUEL GATHECA IS A CLINICAL OFFICER AND RESIDENT OF KIAMBU COUNTY