A hospital in one of Nairobi's estate has been shut down after a Covid-19 patient treated at the facility tested positive.
In a report aired by Citizen TV on Friday, May 1, the clinic based at Ruben Centre, Mukuru kwa Reuben, Nairobi, was closed following the incident, as two medics who interracted with the patient were put under quarantine.
The maternity wing and department handling tuberculosis cases are the only ones that were left to operate as the clinic serves the entire slum, with the next nearest health centre miles away.
Frank O'shea, Director at Ruben centre confirmed the incident, adding that the medics at the facility were also being monitored.
"We did not wish to close but we are also here to save lives," O'shea stated.
Zipporah Mwangi, a manager at the healthcare added that the patient, from Parklands Nairobi, exhibited Covid-19 like symptoms forcing medics to raise alarm and later isolated him too.
"He had already interracted with a receptionist and a nurse at the triage. We saw him excuse himself and jumped out to sneeze. He was also isolated," she stated.
Residents in the area have lamented over how halting operations at the healthcare has affected them as they have to travel miles away for treatment.
"Our children are not attended to and this has affected us," one resident stated.
Nairobi County Communications Director Jacob Elkanah affirmed that the County Government had given the issue a priority and was working towards ensuring services at the hospital were normalised.
"The modalities are being worked out to have it opened. Furthermore, the medics are under quarantine, as per the measures stipulated in combating Covid-19. As you know, Governor Mike Sonko has been on the frontline to combat the spread across the county working 24/7," Elkanah stated while speaking with Kenyans.co.ke on Friday, May 1.
He, however, argued that the fight against the disease in Nairobi would be tough if measures put by the government are not adhered to.
"But the problem we have also been countering is the vandalism of sanitizing booths," Elkanah disclosed.
Nairobi is one of the major hotspots for Covid-19, according to the Ministry of Health. Health CS Mutahi Kagwe in his daily briefings has kept on reiterating that almost every estate in Nairobi has recorded a Covid-19 case. As part of the measure to curb the spread of the disease in the county, President Uhuru Kenyatta extended the cessation of movement in and out of Nairobi.
Video: Citizen TV
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