6 Conditions Contributing to Covid-19 Deaths - DG Amoth

Dr Patrick Amoth speaking at the Ministry of Health headquarters
Ministry of Health Director-General Dr Patrick Amoth speaking at the Ministry of Health headquarters on June 4, 2020.
Photo: Ministry of Health

Health Director-General Dr Patrick Amoth ranked six diseases contributing to Coronavirus (Covid-19) deaths in his weekly question and answer session on Twitter on Wednesday, July 22. 

Amoth indicated that of the total deaths, fatalities for patients with Hypertension and Diabetes (combined) led at 33%, with Hypertension only at 17%. Diabetes only followed at 15% with Chronic Lung diseases and Cancer at 10% each. 

HIV aids was sixth at 4%. Amoth was responding to a question asked on whether HIV was a leading contributor to the 250 fatalities recorded in Kenya as of Tuesday, July 21.

The Health Ministry has numerously directed individuals with preexisting conditions to stay indoors and protect themselves as they were more vulnerable to developing severe disease.  

Hospital beds at a Coronavirus isolation and treatment facility in Mbagathi District Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2020.
Hospital beds at a Coronavirus isolation and treatment facility in Mbagathi District Hospital on Friday, March 6, 2020.
Simon Kiragu
KENYANS.CO.KE

On June 15, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe issued guidelines to hospitals on the management of Covid-19 patients with lifestyle diseases adding that the aforementioned Non-communicable diseases could derail the war on the virus.  

Kenya reported a significant rise in Covid-19 deaths between the months of May and July, with the rise in fatalities ranked among the top ten globally according to data by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The survey indicated that  an average of 2.5 deaths are recorded per per day. MoH had predicted Kenya’s Coronavirus cases to rise between the months of August and September. 

“The cases are rising as we approach the peak, which we have always stated will be around the end of August to the beginning of September. The increased testing rate has also revealed the high burden of Covid-19 on the population,” Amoth stated on Wednesday, July 22. 

Amoth also spoke on the cold weather conditions being experienced in the country, with low temperatures being recorded across various parts of the country. The weather poses a risk for many Kenyans contracting cold with symptoms ranging from fever, headaches and exhaustion, which can be mistaken for Covid-19. 

"I encourage anybody with any respiratory illness to visit the nearest health facility for assessment and management. All healthcare workers across the country have been trained in case detection and management. Confirmation of Covid-19 is only by a laboratory test," Amoth stated asking Kenyans not to assume any infection nor purchase over the counter drugs. 

In her analysis for the months of June to August, Kenya Meteorological Department Director Stella Aura detailed that the Rift Valley and areas east of Rift Valley (Nairobi and Mt Kenya regions) parts of the Lake Victoria Basin Region from Kisii to Migori) are expected to experience near-average with a tendency to cooler than average temperatures.

Counties in Northwestern Kenya (Turkana, Samburu, West Pokot), several counties in the Highlands West of the Rift Valley (Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kakamega, Nandi, Vihiga, Bungoma), some counties in the Lake Victoria Basin Region (Busia, Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, parts of Migori, Kisumu), Central Rift Valley (parts of Laikipia and Nakuru, Baringo), as well as some counties in the Lake Victoria Basin region, are likely to experience near-average temperatures. 

"Since June 2020, we have recorded as low as four degrees in Central Kenya and 28 degrees celsius was the highest in Mandera County. In Nairobi, we corded temperatures as low as eight degrees," Dr Richard Muita, Kenya Mets Assistant Director stated while speaking with Kenyans.co.ke. 

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An analysis by the Kenya Meteorological Department for the months between June and August 2020
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