Health CS Mutahi Kagwe Convenes Crisis Meeting

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe when he held a consultative meeting on Covid-19 response with officials from the ministry,  the Kenya Healthcare Federation and CEOs from the Kenya Association of Private Hospitals at Afya House on Thursday, March 26, 2020.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe when he held a consultative meeting on Covid-19 response with officials from the ministry, the Kenya Healthcare Federation and CEOs from the Kenya Association of Private Hospitals at Afya House on Thursday, March 26, 2020.
File

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, on Sunday, October 18, convened a crisis Covid-19 meeting to address emerging challenges.

A report by NTV indicated that the CS convened the meeting which was attended by scientists and researchers to review Covid-19 management. 

The meeting was organised to exploit available models with regards to control and containment of the virus in the country.

Kagwe convened the meeting ahead of an address he is expected to give later in the afternoon.

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

This comes amidst the worrying concern that Kenya might be experiencing a second wave of the virus that has seen a rise in caseload.

On Saturday, October 17, the country recorded 616 more Covid-19 positive cases from a sample size of 5,512.

The cases have been on the rise for the past one week prompting suspicions that the state would be complete to re-introduce restriction measures.

The total number of Covid-19 cases recorded in the country so far stand at 44,196.

A section of experts believe that the country is likely to suffer from a second wave of the virus that has claimed 825 lives so far.

Dr Githinji Gitahi, Amref Health Africa Chief Executive Officer, told The Standard that the country stood a better chance managing the wave than avoiding it.

“You cannot avoid a second peak, what you can do is manage it so that it does not overwhelm the health care system.

"The strategy is to watch the wave and when it is too high, close down the country. But the problem is not the wave, but how many people will require healthcare in case it happens,” he observed.

President Uhuru Kenyatta just recently relaxed Covid-19 restrictions including pushing curfew hours to begin at 11 p.m. as opposed to 9 p.m.

The Head of State also opened bars partially as well as eateries and restaurants with Kenyans fearful that previous restrictions may be returned.

Police set up roadblocks isolating the Nairobi Metropolitan Area on April 7, 2020.
Police set up roadblocks isolating the Nairobi Metropolitan Area on April 7, 2020.