Covid-19 Patients Stuck Home as Hospitals Fill Up

A nurse attends to a cholera patient at a hospital in Kisumu in 2018
A nurse attends to a cholera patient at a hospital in Kisumu in 2018
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A Covid-19 patient who tested positive for the disease narrated that he stayed home for three days before he could receive any medical attention.

Narrating his story on Friday, June 5, Mwangi, not his real name, disclosed that he was tested for coronavirus on Wednesday, May 27, during mass testing in Githurai.

"On Saturday, I got a call from a doctor who told me that I had contracted the virus and asked me to wait at home, saying that health officials would come for me," he narrated.

A signage showing Mbagathi Hospital in Nairobi County
Signage showing Mbagathi Hospital in Nairobi County.
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As the days went by, the 35-year-old grew anxious as the virus symptoms began to manifest characterised by headaches and growing chest pains.

On Sunday, when he called the doctors inquiring why health officials were yet to pick him up, the doctor notified him that all the isolation centers were full to capacity.

"The doctor told me that there was no space and that I needed to wait a little longer," he narrated.

The doctor added that 13 individuals had tested positive for the virus during the mass testing, all of whom had to wait for treatment because of the congestion in hospitals.

After staying home for three days, Mwangi decided to go to Kenyatta National Hospital to seek treatment. Since he did not have money for a taxi, Mwangi proceeded to use public transport.

Just like Mwangi, many other patients who contract Covid-19 may have to stay home and practice home-based care.

This is after Health CS Mutahi Kagwe stated that Covid-19 treatment facilities are currently running out of space.

“As Kenya sees a surge in the number of persons with Covid-19, it is no longer possible to isolate all patients in hospital-based treatment facilities. Hospital care should be prioritised for those with the highest probability of poor outcomes,” reads a statement from the Health Ministry.

The statement further noted that hospital care would be prioritised for patients with the highest probability of poor outcomes.

"Patients with severe and critical illness and those with mild disease and risk for a poor outcome like those above 60 years of age or those with underlying comorbidities e.g. chronic cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes and cancer," the Ministry stated.

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe during a daily press briefing in April 2020
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe during a daily press briefing in April 2020
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