NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has called on the government to take urgent measures to contain the spread of Ebola following confirmation of Kenya’s first case of the virus.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed on Tuesday that Kenya had recorded its first Ebola case involving a Kenyan national who had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for seven years.
The patient, who had received supportive treatment, died on Monday.
In a statement issued by KMPDU Secretary-General Dr Divji Atellah, the union said healthcare workers who may have come into contact with the patient, including those at Nairobi Hospital and other points of care, should immediately undergo medical monitoring and receive psychological support and appropriate follow-up.
“The safety of healthcare workers must be treated as a national priority,” Atellah said.
KMPDU Raises Medical Cover Concerns
The union also called on counties without medical cover for healthcare workers to provide the necessary protection.
KMPDU further urged the Social Health Authority (SHA) to ensure healthcare workers are not denied access to medical services because of delayed remittances by their employers.
“We also demand that all counties that don’t have a medical cover ensure that they provide the same for their healthcare workers. The SHA must stop locking out healthcare workers from accessing services due to delayed remittances by the employers,” the union said.
Union Demands Transparent Contact Tracing
KMPDU also called for greater transparency in the contact-tracing exercise, saying the public should receive timely and accurate information about the response.
Atellah cautioned the Ministry of Health against gaps in communication that could create room for misinformation as authorities manage the outbreak.
The union further demanded confirmation that isolation and infectious disease treatment units in regional referral facilities are operational, adequately equipped and staffed by trained personnel.
Healthcare Workers Seek Role In Emergency Response
KMPDU said healthcare workers and their unions should be meaningfully represented in national and county emergency response structures.
According to the union, frontline health workers have direct experience of gaps within the healthcare system because they interact with patients and manage cases on the ground.
“KMPDU will continue to monitor the situation closely and engage the relevant authorities to ensure that the necessary safeguards are implemented,” the union said.
55 People Identified For Tracing
According to the Ministry of Health, contact tracing has so far identified 28 people who interacted with the deceased patient.
Authorities have also identified 23 passengers and four crew members who were aboard the flight used by the patient.
The government has been conducting surveillance and contact-tracing measures as it seeks to prevent further transmission of the virus.
