Category: Coronavirus

Citizen,

The coronavirus pandemic is not a short term social disruption but it is going to take months before our lives go back to normal and start social gatherings.

May and June is likely to be the peak with thousands of infected people.

This is a marathon. Brace yourselves fellow humans. It is going to be months of public health measures of physical distance with banned gatherings. Months!!

My conservative guess is 4-5 months from now.

That will be followed by probably 12 to 18 months to recover from the social and economic effects ( I am no economist – just my lay estimates).

COVID19: We are not helpless and we each should learn and adapt. Stop Urban ➡️ Rural migration and protect the elderly who are the most vulnerable to moderate and severe disease! #COVID19 #PhysicalDistancing @Amref_Worldwide pic.twitter.com/6yqaZQUuO9

— Dr Githinji Gitahi, MBS (@daktari1) March 30, 2020

Hibernation in human terms would mean stay indoors, reduce unnecessary expenditure, conserve the little cash you have, stop capital expenditure and asset investments, support each other!

If you had planned to start a new project/business, rethink those plans unless they are directly responding or beneficial to the COVID19 response. Follow these steps, thank me later.

In the U.S, President Donald Trump said he would extend nationwide social distancing guidelines for another 30 days, an abrupt back-down from his push to reopen the country as coronavirus continues to spread.

According to CNN, the 15-day guidelines Trump announced two weeks ago were set to expire on Monday, and the President had suggested over the past week that he was looking to relax them, at least in some parts of the country.

He even floated Easter, on April 12, as a potential date by which the country could return to normal.

But on Sunday he said he’d decided to extend the guidelines — which include suggested limits on large gatherings — to April 30, a sign his earlier predictions were overly rosy.

“The better you do, the faster this whole nightmare will end,” the President said Sunday at a White House news conference. He said he would be finalizing a new plan and strategy early this week and announcing the details on Tuesday.

The announcement marked an abrupt turnaround from a week ago when Trump said he was convinced the distancing restrictions were causing irreparable damage to the economy.

Even as his health advisers warned of dire consequences if Americans were allowed to return to large gatherings or crowded workplaces, Trump appeared intent on allowing a return to normal life.

On Sunday, however, Trump seemed to acknowledge that the spread of the virus had not slowed, at least not yet.

He said that modeling shows that the peak of the death rate will likely hit in two weeks, but stressed that he hopes the country will be on its way to recovery by June 1.

“We can expect that by June 1st, we will be well on our way to recovery, we think by June 1st. A lot of great things will be happening,” he said.

Trump reiterated his intent to return life to normal. “I want our life back again,” he said.

The White House’s social distancing guidance advises all Americans to avoid groups of more than 10 and urges older people to stay at home.

Over the past week, various options had been discussed among Trump’s advisers on possible alternatives — including allowing some states to return to normal more quickly — to the current guidelines.

Additional report from CNN

Dr. Githinji Gitahi is the Global Chief Executive Officer for Amref Health Africa

China has approved the use of bear bile to treat coronavirus patients, angering activists and raising fears it could undermine efforts to stop the illegal animal trade which is blamed for the emergence of the new disease sweeping the globe.

The move comes just weeks after China banned the sale of wild animals for food, citing the risk of diseases spreading from animals to humans.

But the National Health Commission in March issued guidelines recommending the use of “Tan Re Qing” –- an injection that contains bear bile powder, goat horn and three other medicinal herbs –- to treat critically ill coronavirus patients.

It is one of six traditional Chinese medicine products included in the directive.

President Xi Jinping has been keen to promote traditional medicine, calling it a “treasure of Chinese civilisation” and saying it should be given as much weight as other treatments.

The active ingredient in bear bile, ursodeoxycholic acid, is used to dissolve gallstones and treat liver disease but has no proven effectiveness in treating COVID-19.

China has used both traditional and Western medicine in its battle against the novel coronavirus, which has killed more than 3,000 and infected more than 82,000.

But activists say greenlighting a treatment that uses an animal product is “both tragic and ironic” given that the origin of the deadly coronavirus is linked to the trade and consumption of wild animals.

“We shouldn’t be relying on wildlife products like bear bile as the solution to combat a deadly virus that appears to have originated from wildlife,” Brian Daly, a spokesman for the Animals Asia Foundation, told AFP.

The novel coronavirus is believed to have come from bats, but researchers think it might have spread to humans via an intermediate host mammal species.

– Cruel trade –

Chinese disease control officials have previously identified wild animals sold in a market in Wuhan market as the source of the coronavirus pandemic.

Conservationists have long accused China of tolerating a cruel trade in wild animals as exotic menu items or for use in traditional medicines whose efficacy is not confirmed by science.

Scientists say Severe Acute Respiratory System (SARS) — another deadly coronavirus — likely originated in bats, later reaching humans via civet cats.

“Promotion of bear bile has the propensity to increase the amount used, affecting not only captive bears, but also those in the wild, potentially compromising an already endangered species in Asia and across the world,” Daly said.

There are about 20,000 bears being held in tiny cages under cruel conditions across China to cater to the demand from traditional medicine suppliers, said Kirsty Warren, a spokeswoman for World Animal Protection.

“We estimate the entire market value of bear bile pharmaceuticals to be more than $1 billion,” Warren added.

Bile farming is legal in China — but exports of the product or treatments made from it are banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which China is a signatory to.

“Across Asia, bear bile trade is widespread, although it is illegal in most countries,” said Richard Thomas from animal rights NGO Traffic.

“But the active ingredient in bear bile — ursodeoxycholic acid — is readily synthesised in laboratories, so even if it did prove to be popular, there should be no need for bear bile to be included (in medicines).”

China in February declared an immediate and “comprehensive” ban on the trade and consumption of wild animals that was welcomed by environmentalists.

Beijing implemented similar measures following the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s, but the trade and consumption of wild animals, including bats and snakes, made a comeback.

But in signs that the measures are being taken more seriously this time, the southern city of Shenzhen also passed a law this week banning the consumption of wild animals — including cat and dog meat.

The move was welcomed by animal rights activists, with Humane Society International saying the trade kills an estimated 10 million dogs and four million cats in China every year.

Landlords and Tenants Association of Kenya (LATAK) on Wednesday asked landlords to offer tenants rent waiver for the months of April, May and June.

LATAK wants landlords to do this following economic disruption brought about by coronavirus pandemic.

The association also wants the government to grant landlords servicing loans a 6-month moratorium.

Lawywer Cliff Ombeta who’s also a landlord has come out to support the initiative that is meant to cushion Kenyans from the harsh economic realities. “In solidarity and sympathy, I have asked all my tenants not to pay Rent for April and May as we try to adjust in view of covid-19.” Wrote Ombeta.

Many Kenyans are eagerly waiting to see if the president would issue issue measures that would cushion them from basic bills including rent.

Most Kenyans are currently not going to work as nearly everything is coming to an halt. It’s evident that meeting all the bills without an income is going to be a toll order. Landlords on the other end are not likely to crawl back given the different aspects including loans to service, servants to pay and other maintenances. The fact that the conversation is ongoing, is a good indicator for both parties.

The rapid spread of the novel coronavirus has made practices like social or physical distancing and regular handwashing an integral part of daily life. However, these measures can be exceptionally difficult to put into practice in densely populated, informal urban settlements, where overcrowding makes the “two-metre separation rule” almost impossible to uphold – and where many lack access to basic services like water and sanitation.

Today, around one billion people, or one eighth of the population, live in slums. These housing facilities tend to have meagre ventilation, drainage and sewerage facilities, with diseases spreading easily.

Furthermore, being able to practice actions such as physical distancing is a privilege for those who can afford the space and work life that allows it. Many slum residents live hand-to-mouth, often bringing them into close contact with people, and simply cannot stop working because of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the World Health Organization, the provision of safe water, sanitation and hygienic conditions are essential to protecting people’s health during all infectious disease outbreaks, including COVID-19. However, more than 400 million people in urban areas in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia lack access to handwashing, heightening the risk of the disease spreading rapidly in heavily-populated communities.

Furthermore, health facilities in urban slums tend to be understaffed, underequipped, and are likely to be overwhelmed should the virus get out of hand.

The exclusion of any segment of the population from essential health care and water, sanitation and hygiene services not only puts that individual at risk, but creates an unnecessary and unacceptable risk to the entire population by allowing highly communicable diseases like COVID-19 to spread more easily.

As we wait for a vaccine to be developed and made widely available, there are immediate measures we can take to pre-empt the worst effects of COVID-19 on marginalised urban communities.

STRENGTHEN ROUTINE IMMUNISATION

In countries with weaker health systems, outbreaks can have a devastating impact. Investments in primary health care to strengthen immunisation systems are the first line of defence. Strong routine immunisation ensures people are protected against the spread of many known infectious diseases and, by connecting them to health services, enables early detection of novel threats, which is critical to outbreak response.

For its part, Gavi is providing additional support to help countries bolster existing routine immunisation programmes in order to prevent further outbreaks of other diseases which could place additional strain on developing countries and their health systems during this crisis.

RAMP UP HEALTH SYSTEM STRENGTHENING MEASURES

Now more than ever, it will be critical to ensure that urban informal settlements and their fragile health systems are braced to manage an epidemic. This means increased production and distribution of personal protective equipment and taking steps to enhance testing capacity at the community level. To facilitate these interventions, Gavi-supported countries will be able to quickly reallocate up to 10% of grants extended to them under Gavi’s health system and immunisation strengthening programme to respond to the threat posed by COVID-19. This would allow countries to fill critical gaps in areas such as hygiene and infection control training for health workers, infection control supplies, surveillance and laboratory testing while they wait for specific funds to be allocated by the global community for the COVID-19 response.

PLAN, COORDINATE AND MANAGE HEALTH, WATER AND SANITATION RESOURCES

In many urban slums, there are multiple actors working across health and other social services. An effective response to COVID-19 will require a clear definition of roles and responsibilities within communities. It will also be important to leverage existing platforms for collaboration and coordination among actors in health and social services.

To maximise access to health services for the urban poor, it will be important to map and coordinate COVID-19 mitigation measures with government, public-private, non-profit and for-profit health, and water and sanitation providers. This will be critical to avoid gaps in service delivery, particularly in densely populated areas where the outbreak could sweep through and place a heavy burden on existing infrastructure.

Slum residents who are casual labourers or self-employed may prefer quick and easy health care that doesn’t interfere with their ability to earn their daily income. In these instances, governments could consider investing in mobile clinics to deliver health services where they are most needed. They could also erect semi-permanent structures for COVID-19 outreach (refurbished containers, schools, etc.), although these may still end up being in short supply in overcrowded slums.

ENGAGE AND MOBILISE PEOPLE LIVING IN URBAN, INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS WITH TIMELY, ACCURATE INFORMATION

Some of the unique challenges facing margainalised urban communities include a loss of social cohesion, lack of traditional hierarchies, a multiplicity of languages and discrimination based on ethnicity, poverty and religion. On the other hand, they are likely to have access to media, including social media, and there are more associations, civic groups and civil society organisations with social agendas.

In this case, radio, television, free SMS “help lines” and WhatsApp groups have the potential to become effective tools for communicating vetted public health messages around COVID-19.

Meanwhile, to prevent rumours and misinformation spreading, it is imperative that any tailored communications around the pandemic are planned, tested and ready to be shared with low-income, urban communities should the need arise. To ensure accurate and consistent messaging, health officials could also proactively educate and raise awareness among journalists on COVID-19 critical preparedness, readiness and response.

We are at an inflection point: the novel coronavirus has not yet reached epidemic proportions in the world’s poorest countries. Taking these pre-emptive actions now could help protect millions of people who are already grappling with complex, layered socio-economic challenges.

Article originally appeared on the vaccine alliance.

Unlike a standard Intensive Care Unit (ICU) room which costs between Sh7 million and Sh8 million to set up, ICU’s for patients with the novel contagious Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) require to be isolated in rooms that contain negative pressure to prevent cross-contamination.

The rooms include a ventilator that generates pressure that is lower than normal to allow air to flow into the isolation room.

According to Dr. Noah Akala, MD who is the Founder and CEO at MedLux International Hospital, the Government would have to set aside between Sh15 million to Sh20 million to set up an ICU unit fully suited to deal with the worst COVID-19 case that the country can record.

Detailing everything on this Social media account, here is how ICU machinery costs:

• Patient monitor – India versions can cost as little as Sh80,000. European model as much as Sh600,000
• Ventilator – Chinese models Sh1.7 million. European as much as Sh5 million.
• Defibrillator – can be shared between 3 – 5 beds. for Sh250,000
• Ripple mattress – Sh10,000
• Medical gas system – this depends on whether you put an oxygen plant or you just use those BOC cylinders. It also needs a vacuum system so the cost can really vary.
• ICU nurses, in the private sector, salaries exceed Sh100,000 per month Nurse: Patient at all times is 1:1.
• Anaesthesiologist who get paid between Sh400,000 to Sh600,000
• For COVID-19, patients need to be isolated in a room with a feature called negative pressure to prevent the risk of transmission. This doesn’t come standard. Hermetically sealed doors for such a unit alone can cost Sh1.5 million. These doors prevent air from moving in/out
• A proper lab to run daily tests; Kidney function, liver function, arterial blood gases are daily. Full haemogram/Chest x-ray every other day. Mobile x-ray units cost about Sh11 million

The doctor further advises on a properly stocked pharmacy that would allow patients to get the necessary supportive medication as and when required. “Antibiotics are key to treat pneumonia’s that superimpose on the viral infection.” He writes.

Of the 518 ICU beds in the country, 450 are currently occupied.

Reference Source

The United Nations has warned that by the end of the coronavirus pandemic developing countries will have lost income of more than Sh22 trillion ($220 billion) and nearly half of all jobs in Africa lost.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) says the growing Covid-19 crisis will disproportionately hit developing countries in every sector and will also lead to a devastating social and economic crisis over months and years to come.

“With an estimated 55pc of the global population having no access to social protection, these losses will reverberate across societies, impacting education, human rights and, in the most severe cases, basic food security and nutrition,” UNDP stated on Monday.

You probably must have come across conversations from people claiming to have had coronavirus like symptoms in months to the confirmation of the virus in the country before the 13th confirmation y the health ministry.

On 30th March, the state said it estimated coronavirus cases by mid-April will be 5,000, and rise to 10,000 by end of April in the absence of any drastic intervention.

One question that has been on many people’s minds is for how long has the virus probably been in Kenya before it’s confirmation?

In a recent news report, 17 children were reported dead on a mysterious illness that showed all the coronavirus symptoms in Kilifi. The government was quick to rubbish the existence of a mystery saying all deaths were linked to pneumonia.

Pneumonia is Kenya’s number one children’s killer disease.

In the wake of this, data from the National Registry of Diseases shows an alarming trend in pneumonia deaths in the last months to the confirmation of Covid-19 in March.

According to a story on Daily Nation, from  January up until early February, the number of pneumonia cases were 137,667 before a dramatic increase to 195,504. While the data for March is not complete, a source at the Ministry of Health suspects that the numbers are still increasing.

Uganast Rebecca Kadaga, the Speaker of Parliament had told legislators that Uganda would soon start manufacturing a wonder drug that instantly kills the coronavirus.

The drug, developed by an American inventor and biologist, Prof Safaraz K. Niazi  together with Ugandan biochemist, Mathias Magoola, was expected to get on the market within 14 days.

“Within a fortnight, the treatment will be right here, it will be available on the market here in Uganda. It is being made by a company called DEI International. Not that we should relax, but there is hope and the treatment will start here in Uganda, you can imagine. But in the meantime let us do the simple things of washing and not hugging.” Kadaga said.

Prof Niazi was in the country and met President Museveni. A video of the meeting, shared by Kadaga on her facebook page has since gone viral.

During the meeting, attended by Kadaga, one of Niazi’s associates tells Museveni that “it is only this product in the world that kills the virus including Sars.”

The President then asked in case Coronavirus is contained would the chemical be able to fight other viruses, to which the associate stammers, ‘Including bacteria.’

While everything seemed to be too good to be true, there’s not so much of his digital footprints painting a picture of a suspicious character. However, there’s scanty information about him.

According to Wikipedia, Sarfaraz Khan Niazi was born in Lucknow, India in 1949; he migrated to Karachi, Pakistan in 1962 and to the United States in 1970. He is an expert in biopharmaceutical manufacturing and has worked in academia and in industry, and as an entrepreneur. He has written books in the field of pharmaceutical sciences, biotechnology, consumer healthcare and poetry.

Niazi earned a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy from the University of Karachi in 1969. In 1970 he moved to the United States. He obtained his Master of Science degree in pharmaceutical sciences in 1971 from Washington State University in Pullman, WA, and then moved to Illinois. In 1974, he obtained his doctorate in pharmaceutical sciences from the University Of Illinois At Chicago.

I've told Parliament that a spray, which instantly kills the Corona virus, has been discovered & is to be co-produced in Uganda. It goes on the market next week. The American inventor, Prof. Safraz K. Niaz, was here at the weekend & donated the patent, free of charge to Uganda.

— Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga (@RebeccaKadagaUG) March 16, 2020

Prof. Sarfaraz, an advisor to the US Congress & Govt, has teamed up with a Ugandan biochemist, Mathias Magoola, to produce the product at DEI Group, in Luzira, Kampala. It will be the first product that instantly kills the Corona virus.

— Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga (@RebeccaKadagaUG) March 16, 2020

Here is evidence of the Prof's visit. pic.twitter.com/gob8FlmEtd

— Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga (@RebeccaKadagaUG) March 16, 2020

The plenary is on. I've assured MPs that I don't deal with quacks — as is being alleged thru social media and leaders of Uganda Medical Association. I also take issue with the latter for resort to a press conference instead of a courtesy call & sharing their concerns. pic.twitter.com/0az8ePtR5B

— Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga (@RebeccaKadagaUG) March 17, 2020

I've had laid on table 5 technical books written by Prof Sarfraz — who is being insulted. He was the brainchild behind 'Obama Care'. My interest is local capacity to produce our own drugs instead of endless importation. The local biochemist, Matthias Magoola, is not a quack. pic.twitter.com/DBGqyh97Rx

— Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga (@RebeccaKadagaUG) March 17, 2020

While he managed to convince the president and the speaker of his wonder drug, not everyone was satisfied.

The Uganda Medical Association (UMA) rubbished  Prof. Sarfaraz K. Niazi, who ridiculously claimed that he had invented a vaccine for the coronavirus.

The UMA President Dr Richard Idro said that the SARS-COV-2 )9 which causes COVID19) is a new strain of coronavirus which was only discovered three months ago and to date, it has no single medicine that cure it.

Dr Idro went ahead to say that the scientist is a quack whose intention was to divert the population from known and effective preventive measures.

“We express particular displeasure about the quack cadre scientists who desire to misinform the leadership of our country. From what we understand, whatever was purported as a treatment, cure or vaccine is actually a disinfectant meant for external body use,” Dr Idro said.

Dr Idro added that it was very unlikely that the same disinfectant had been approved by the United States of America where the said professor comes from.

“Why would the US give the patent of a potential cure to the country with no single case when it has several thousand cases?” he asked.

Its not known whether he made money out of it yet, what’s clear is he sold an idea of a disinfectant as a wonder drug for the treatment of Covid19 and made the government believe him.

Uganda coronavirus cases continue to climb up with Museveni putting the country in a total lockdown in a measure to stop the virus spread which is now in the community.

While the speaker boasted that Uganda would be the first country to have the coronavirus wonder drug available courtesy of the professor, the charlatan has not been heard from since the confirmation of Covid19 in Uganda and neither his wonder drug seen.

Covid19 continues to send chills down many sounds as the virus claims over 30,000 lives in the last three months and infecting more than 600,000 globally as of 28th March.

Researchers are yet to figure out its cure and vaccine leaving many to try all kind of remedies some of which have ended fatal.

US President Trump has been fronting the use of chloroquine an anti malarial drug as effective fir the treatment of coronavirus. While this is still under trial, a number of people have taken the risk to try out the drug and a couple is reported to have died in Nigeria and Kansas.

Kenyans more so from the coastal region woke up to a viral message of a supposed relief. Apparently, a natural treatment for scary coronavirus had been found.

In messages that went viral on social media especially on WhatsApp, a theory was being peddled that a baby was born in Coast general and uttered the words “black tea cures coronavirus” while nobody could particularly ascertain this, it was picked up by many as fact. The baby is then said to have died immediately after saying the words. They believe the baby was sent to save the world and died again.

This is far from the truth. This is a hoax story that didn’t even start in Kenya. It has been peddled from Pakistan to India to Sudan, it has been everywhere.

The theory of black tea treating coronavirus has been scientifically debunked.

As for the compounds that are supposed to give tea its curative powers against COVID-19 — methylxanthines are organic compounds found in tea, coffee and chocolate; theophylline is a type of methylxanthine; theobromine works as a bronchodilator (dilates the bronchi in the lungs) to soothe some respiratory symptoms — is present only in black tea in small amounts.

And they do have benefits. Theobromine could lower blood pressure, act as a mild stimulant, and may even help in suppressing a cough. Theophylline has similar benefits as well, like the potential to make breathing easier and improve blood flow. Theophylline is also used to treat asthma – but in much larger amounts than is present in tea. 

But preventing or curing COVID-19 is not something tea can do. In theory, it may ease some of the symptoms, but it can’t fight off the infection or disease itself. There is also no sign of an article by CNN in which they claim it could. 

Also, Dr Li Wenliang is being hailed a hero in China – but for a different reason. In December 2019, he tried to warn medical professionals about a virus similar to SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). He was asked to stop spreading these “rumours” by the police. He later succumbed to COVID-19.

Only prevention

We have to understand this – there is no cure, medication or vaccine as of now. Once there is, you probably won’t find out about it through a forwarded message but instead from top medical institutions and trustworthy media channels. 

The only way to prevent contraction of the novel coronavirus is to maintain hand hygiene, practise social distancing, coughing in your elbow or a tissue, not touching your face and self-isolating if possible. 

Something to keep in mind

What we all need to remember is that COVID-19 is a very new disease. It takes many years to understand a particular disease and even then there are many aspects of it that could remain a mystery. While research is being conducted at breakneck speed, there is a lot that is unknown at this point. We must not blindly believe any piece of news we come across. Ask and look for the source of the information, run it by fact check accounts – at least google the information you receive as some experts may have already debunked it.

So tell your mum and relatives to go slow and that beyond the nutritional value, there’s nothing much to the black tea, no magic and definitely no baby who spoke immediately after being born.

By Bloomberg

Africa is two to three weeks away from the worst of the coronavirus storm and needs an emergency economic stimulus of $100 billion to bolster preventative measures and support its fragile healthcare systems, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

Almost half of the funds could come from waiving interest payments to multilateral institutions. That would give countries the fiscal space needed to impose social-distancing measures, widen social safety nets and equip hospitals to treat the sick ahead of an expected surge in infections, UNECA Executive Secretary Vera Songwe said by phone from Washington.

“If we want to have a fighting chance, we need it immediately,” she said. “In the next two to three weeks, if we act really decisively, we may be able to flatten the curve and then when the storm comes it will be not be as brutal as we see in Europe.”

One measure that can provide some immediate relief is the creation of the special purpose vehicle requested by African finance ministers through which interest payments on sovereign bonds could be sequestered and provide all countries on the continent, regardless of income level, with support, she said.

Stressed Systems

A lack of resources and staff means authorities must work fast to limit the spread of the disease on a continent where hospitals have an average of just 1.8 beds per 1,000 people, UNECA data show. While Africa accounts for 1% of global health expenditure, it carries 23% of the disease burden, including hundreds of thousands of deaths each year from malaria, HIV/Aids and tuberculosis.

“Our hospital systems are so weak and so stressed already that another stress on them is going to break them,” Songwe said.

There are more than 3,000 Covid-19 infections in 46 countries across the continent, according to the Addis Ababa-based Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

The continent has never experienced a crisis of the scale and magnitude caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Songwe said. While its impact is likely to be felt for 12 to 18 months — with a loss of lives, jobs and businesses as economies grind to a halt — the potential loss of health care providers and schooling would also weigh on the continent’s health and education sectors for years to come, she said.

A coordinated global effort is required to assist countries and businesses, and support the recovery of economies across the world, she said.

“If there is one African country or one country anywhere in the world that still has the coronavirus, the whole world has it. We’ve seen the speed of contamination and how quickly it can re-spread,” Songwe said.

By John Kiarie

IT’S JUST ABOUT TO GET REAL! (Thread)

We have 7,000 Kenyans in quarantine who arrived back between Wednesday and Sunday. In Dagoretti South Constituency we are hosting them at Lenana School and Kinyanjui Tech. How they got there and the chaos therein is a story for another day.

Kenya currently has an acute shortage of testing kits, so the country cannot adequately test how many of these new arrivals are currently positive! We currently do not know the exact number of positive cases in the country.

Today, CS Mutahi is only communicating what they have tested with the limited testing kits available. There are many, many untested, unreported positive cases out here.

How many of these new arrivals will test positive when we finally get kits in two weeks’ time or so, or whenever the kits arrive? Only God knows.

Moderate estimates are that by May, Kenya will be reporting in excess of 10,000 positive patients!

My two cents worth on what we must do immediately:

Kenya Government must forthwith communicate the gravity of the real situation without sugar coating anymore. Let Kenyans know how bad things are about to get. They will be better equipped to make personal decisions and put up with government decrees, measures and restrictions.

Kenya Government MUST now start preparing Isolation Centres around the country. This cannot be left to County Governments who are currently designating a few hospital beds in existing hospitals. Counties have no idea what is coming their way!

Kenya National Government must set up massive Isolation Centres around the country; over 4,000 bed isolation centres in Kasarani, Nyayo and City Stadiums in Nairobi. Over 3,000 bed Isolation centres in Mombasa and similar centres countrywide.

This CANNOT and MUST not be left to County governments. Again, even they don’t know yet just how hard this thing is about to hit the Kenya!

We must start mass producing masks immediately! We might not as a country be able to produce the high quality N95 masks (or whatever they are called) but masks are just about to become the most important commodity in this country.

Kenya Government MUST take stock of available ventilators in the country and then immediately order, buy, beg or steal more from wherever they must!.

GoK must take stock of all available Gas cylinders within the borders of Kenya; (maybe even ata zile ziko pale kwa garage za chomelea Dagoretti Corner). Then bring on board private manufacturers. There will have to be a way of manufacturing and refilling cylinders with oxygen.

If anyone can think of how one cylinder can serve more than one ventilator (without cross contamination) that guy will be Kenya’s life saving hero.

Beds and beddings need to be fabricated in the thousands. On this, our jua kali sector is up to the task, our artisans in Ngando along Ngong Road and others all over the country are more than skilled for this.

Health Caretakers’ apparel and protective gear need to be produced en masse. EPZ, KITUI, RIVATEX, NYS and wherever else we stitch school, police, KDF uniforms must kick into overdrive.

Community Health Volunteers are Kenya’s best bet in managing the chaos on the ground that is just about to ensue. GoK, please, please, be good to these people, in Dagoretti South we have over 400 of them in our database (and AMREFs).

They are in every constituency. Arm them with hand held thermometers for early detections and referrals for the relevant quick medical response. In GoK planning, please set aside monies for a stipend for the CHVs countrywide. They are about to become the frontline in this battle.

Health Committee in Parliament will have to take leadership on the legislative response to this disaster. A Kenya COVID 19 Bill is long overdue. Kenya Parliament MUST step up to the plate. Sorry, populist paycut stories won’t help here.

Stop thinking April and start strategising May going forward! Short term thinking got us here in the first place! We’ve missed critical Milestones and that is why we are here! This is an imported disease! If we just kept our borders closed we would not be in this mess!

Do we have food? GoK will have to feed its people. Either a cash disbursement starting with the most vulnerable or set up food ration stations in the neighbourhoods or mount a massive food distribution, KDF, NYS might come in handy for this. Or map the country and do all 3

NWSC MUST be forced to supply sufficient water to the estates! Ile kiboko ya Police wa curfew ipelekwe Kampala Road! This is not the time for those NWSC artificial shortage games! The Dams are full for God’s sake, how can taps in Rīruta be dry for over a month !

Unpiped areas, Athi Water Works MUST set up 100 free water stations per Nairobi Constituency where NWSC bowsers fill up communal tanks. More stations = less crowding = social distancing. Sanitation matters! Nairobi has NO CAPACITY to manage COVID 19 and Cholera at the same time!

GoK’s economy thinking MUST radically refocus from cushioning economic shocks to SURVIVAL! There will be no economy to recover from if we are totally decimated . I am a Arts Double Major, undergrad and post grad, #KimaniIchungwa help with the Double Maths.

GoK MUST come out and admit that the government CANNOT handle what is coming alone. No drought, Bomb blast, Terror attack, Westgate, or disaster we have known before is anywhere close to what is coming. We need a “Kenyans for Kenyans” to the power of 100 to even barely survive!

GoK MUST partner with Private sector to build Kenya’s biggest disaster response band wagon that any well wisher can jump on to and plug in their support.

My two cents worth and a penny for change.

John Kiarie is the MP for Dagoretti.

President Kagame has said that the Government is working on a social protection plan, to support the most vulnerable in Rwanda amid Coronavirus lockdown

The head of state said this in his national message in line with the global Covid-19 crisis.

President Kagame also reassured Rwandans that the measures Rwanda has taken “are working”, calling on nationals and residents to play their role, in both action and attitude to defeat the coronavirus pandemic.

FULL STATEMENT: 

Good evening to you all.

I am glad to have this opportunity to address you, as we confront the coronavirus pandemic.

The world is mobilizing to stop this disease, and since the first case was detected in Rwanda almost two weeks ago, everyone has played their part and made a contribution.

I want to thank all of you for your understanding, cooperation and the sacrifices you are making.

In particular, I want to thank those in the health sector, for the dedication they continue to demonstrate. They are working day and night, to prevent new infections, to treat those affected, and keep our country safe.

Today, we have 54 confirmed cases of coronavirus in our country.  This number will rise as tracing continues, in order to detect, test and treat those who have been in contact with confirmed cases.

It is the best way to assist those who may have been infected, and prevent them from infecting their families, friends, and others in our community.

We made the difficult decision to stop commercial passenger flights, and restrict movement over land borders. This has helped to ensure that no new cases are imported into Rwanda.

We suspended internal transport to prevent the virus from spreading around the country.

However, coronavirus is highly contagious, and there is not yet an adequate understanding of it.

It is our responsibility to ensure that the virus does not spread.

This is why I want to call upon everyone to continue following the directives of the government, to remain steadfast no matter the difficulty in order to beat this virus once and for all, and ensure we prevent the loss of many lives. The guidelines include the following:

» Stay at home

» Keep a physical distance between yourself and others, both when you go out and when you are at home

» Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently

» Contact the authorities if you experience any symptoms of the virus

We know that this is not an easy period for most Rwandans, whose livelihoods have been interrupted across the country.

But we ask you to be patient. Although we are making good progress, we cannot afford to relax yet.

The Government will continue to do everything possible, to support Rwandans through this challenging time.

Measures have been taken, and more will be taken, to build the resilience of our private sector throughout this difficult period.

Relevant institutions are working on a social protection plan, to support the most vulnerable in our community. We need to speed this up.

We are also working in collaboration with our partners in the region and internationally, to manage this pandemic.

I especially want to express our appreciation to all who have offered their support, I thank the World Health Organization, and in particular Dr Tedros and Jack Ma and his foundation. I also thank all who have offered their support through the advice they have given us and the equipment they have donated.

I would like to thank our Ministry of Health and other government institutions for the commendable job and commitment they continue to demonstrate through the work of our National Task Force led by the Prime Minister.

As Rwandans, we have overcome many extraordinary challenges together.

Our resilience and solidarity are needed now more than ever, to prevail in this struggle against coronavirus. And we have to win this fight.

I take this opportunity to once again ask each one of you to play their role, in both action and attitude.

The measures we have taken are working.

What we do today, will determine how quickly we can defeat this pandemic, so that we can continue with our normal lives.

May the peace of God be with you all in these difficult times.

Kenya has only 518 beds to cater for patients in a critical state, this is even as the country fights the Covid-19 pandemic that has so far claimed the life of one person.

Almost full to the brim, of the 518, 439 beds are already occupied in hospitals across the country.

Nairobi County has the highest number of ICU beds at 247 with Kenyatta University Hospital leading the county with 44 beds, the Nairobi West with 17, Nairobi Hospital with 16 and Aga Khan Hospital with 11 ICU beds.

In Mombasa, Moi Teaching Referral Hospital has 20 beds while the Coast General Teaching Referral hospital has 12 beds. The county has a total of 36 beds.

Counties with no single critical care beds include; Kitui, Nyandarua, Laikipia, Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet, Marsabit and Migori.

Kiambu has 19 while Uasin Gishu has 55 beds.

The low number is worrying seeing as Health CS Mutahi Kagwe has today said they are monitoring almost a thousand people.“Currently, the Health Ministry is monitoring 978 close contacts. Three individuals are admitted at Mbagathi Hospital awaiting test results and 833 have been tested so far.” He stated.

The country has so far 38 confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

Family members of the 66-year old man Morris Namiinda who died at Aga Khan after suffering the Covid19 and being the first casualty in Kenya is at a crossroads with the government.

Family are now claiming that since his death, the government has kept them in the dark with rumors floating around that the state was contemplating cremation of the body.

However, relatives talking to the media insists that as an elder in the village he must be accorded a physical burial and are asking for the release of his body for burial in his rural home in Trans Nzoia.

Luhya culture like many cultures in Kenya have not yet endorsed the cremation as a way of burying their loved ones.

While speaking to the press, family members are saying they’re ready to commit with the government’s directives for a decent burial of their loved one.

On the other hand, government through spokesperson Cyrus Oguna and the CS Mutahi Kagwe have rubbished the claims saying they’re unfounded rumors as the government is still consulting on the way forward. The government has said they’re putting into considerations the needs of the family and will give the way forwards.

The first case now opens a box as to whether all the coronavirus victims will have to be cremated. In countries like Italy where thousands have died, the government has resorted to cremation.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) will on Monday move to court to challenge the curfew which began Friday evening saying it is not only unconstitutional but has also been abused by the National Police Service.

“Law Society of Kenya will move to Court on Monday to challenge the curfew which is not only unconstitutional but has been abused by the police,” said LSK President Nelson Havi.

LSK President Nelson Havi through a statement said that the curfew will aid in spreading the dreaded Coronavirus/Covid-19

“It is evident that Covid-19 will be spread more by actions of police than of those claimed to have contravened the curfew,” said Havi.

Havi urged the members of the public are requested to document all incidences of aggravated assault by the police and forward the same to the Law Society of Kenya.

While condemning the actions of the police officers caught assaulting Kenyan Citizens the LSK boss called upon the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Co-ordination of National Government Dr Fred Matiangi to take personal responsibility and resign.

“The National Police Service has no right or justification whatsoever substituting the penalty with corporal punishment. Their action amounts to aggravated assault,” added LSK President Nelson Havi.

The penalty for contravening a curfew is a fine of not more than Ksh 1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 3 months, or to both.

On Friday, the government confirmed 31 cases of coronavirus with one fatality. It was also the day that marked the start of 7pm-5am curfew, with this, the national security council envisioned a scientific consensus for slowing down the spread of coronavirus which is now threatening the security of Kenya with its rapid spread.

With the mention of curfew, fear had struck Kenyans as this would mean dealing with police brutality given their history.

True to the word, they did disappoint the imaginations, as early as 5pm, the police force known for insatiable appetite for brutality were already on a prowl.

One NTV journalist in Mombasa wasn’t lucky and was almost crushed with his studio equipment. Mark you journalists as essential services providers are exempted from the curfew but we know the police force, they’re not known to respect the same law they’re enforcing.

Ugliest scenes were witnessed in Mombasa and the Likoni Ferry terminus, police reigned terror on people as early as 6pm, an hour before the curfew starts. Innocent people who were either lined up or navigating to the waiting bay were not spared.

In what can only be described as uncouth, uninformed and plainly stupid move, police started firing teargas at the crowd causing a near stampede. They started whipping anything and anyone in sight.

Whether they knew or not or just didn’t care, many people were left exposed to the virus that the police were supposed to minimize its spread. Logically, when you fire teargas, people are prompted to rub their faces, without washing their hands, many people had to rub them with chances of the hands being contaminated. This was how to fasten the spread not to stop the spread.

There was open disregard to social distancing which is basically one of the key precautions the government has been advocating for. Police bundled up people as if in a concentration camp, created a fatal crowd, with the nature of the virus spread, this was plain dumb and up to now, nobody knows the extent of damage the miscalculation by the police must’ve cost in Mombasa.

I don’t know if it’s flat ignorance or just a reminder that we still have the same colonial text book police force with mighty brutality. Instead of stopping the spread, they laid a breeding ground for its spread. One would mistake the country was in chaos of perhaps election violence yet it wasn’t. You simply can’t solve a scientific problem with rungu and guns, even the police who might think they’re invincible to the virus, are putting their lives in danger when engaging in the crooked ways of handling the crowds.

Police mishandling of the curfew elicited reactions from various leaders including SC Orengo who said, “A state of emergency does not by itself ineluctably limit or suspend the Bill of Rights. There must be legislation. In any case national security must be pursued in compliance with the rule of law & human rights.Police must not enforce curfew with might but love & fight Covid-19.”

“Kenyans are already economically distressed & now terrified of COVID-19. They need help & guidance. Enforcement of the curfew does not mean terror & brutality to the mwanainchi. Treat the citizenry with civility.” Said Musalia Mudavadi.

Also Senator Murkomen indulged, “Every law/directive is meant to cure a particular mischief. The curfew is meant to curb the spread of COVID19 and not to torture Kenyans.The security managers are behaving as though they have a grudge against Kenyans and are using COVID19 as an excuse to revenge. It must stop forthwith.”

Former MP Martha Karua couldn’t hold back her thoughts either, “Terrorising commuters at Likoni ferry with tear gas and beatings is unacceptable! The inadequacy of the available mode of transport rests squarely on the government . Lets hope no arrests will be made for lateness where public transport is clearly the issue.”

It was determined that it would not be necessary to involve the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in imposing the curfew, for now.

In an interview with ACI Africa, Fr. Richard, a liturgy student at the Rome-based The Pontifical University of Sant’Anselmo, has also faulted the Kenyan media for false and inaccurate reporting and disclosed that all the contacts traced from him have so far tested negative.

“As I am talking to you, I am feeling no pain; I am feeling nothing and today is my 14^th day in Kenya. If I had this thing it would have come out,” Fr. Richard told ACI Africa Thursday, March 26 referencing symptoms associated with COVID-19 patients.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that “affects different people in different ways,” the most common symptoms being fever, tiredness, and a dry cough. Other known symptoms include breathing difficulty, sore throat, as well as aches and pains.

“Sincerely speaking, I have not had those symptoms of coronavirus that are known up to now,” Fr. Richard said during the phone interview and clarified, “I’m not coughing, no nausea, no throat irritation, no fever, my body temperature has been in the range of 36.4 to 36.7. However mild it is, at least some signs should be seen.”

The Kenyan-born cleric who is incardinated in South Sudan’s Torit diocese faulted media reports that he had flown into the country via South Africa saying, “On the 12^th of March, I came from Rome direct to Nairobi by Kenya Airways flight number KQ 128.”

Having gone through the tests at the airport and allowed into the country, Fr. Richard traveled, March 13, to the Kenyan port city of Kisumu for a funeral at his home parish, St. Joseph’s Ugunja of the Archdiocese of Kisumu.

“I just concelebrated; I did not even give Holy Communion,” the 38-year-old cleric recalled the event of the March 14 funeral Mass, faulting the Kenyan media for reporting that he was the main celebrant at the burial ceremony.

In a statement to ACI Africa, the Parish Priest of St. Joseph’s Ugunja, the host of the funeral Mass, stated, “Fr. Richard never presided over that mass as alleged by the media” and clarified, “The said funeral was presided over by Fr. Lukas my curate since I was home for the funeral of my nephew.”

Fr. Robert Onyango Sewe, a Kenyan-born Franciscan Capuchin Friar based in the U.S. has also criticized some Kenyan media, lamenting the erroneous use of his picture in telling Fr. Richard’s COVID-19 story.

During the interview with ACI Africa, Fr. Richard said he decided to go to hospital March 20 after feeling “something like mild chest congestion and nausea.”

He had returned to Nairobi by flight March 16, living in self-quarantine at the Holy Family Catholic Parish, Utawala of the Archdiocese of Nairobi, maintaining social distance from his hosts, Fr. Bosco Kamau and Fr. Anthony-Mario Egbunonu, both members of Saint Patrick’s Society (SPS).

At Nairobi West hospital where he went to seek medical advice, Fr. Richard explained to the medical staff what he was feeling and disclosed his travel history as having jetted into the country from Italy, the European epicenter of COVID-19.

“The Dr walked out and told me, Richard I want to be candid with you; since you travelled from Rome, you are showing the signs of coronavirus. So, I will isolate you here then refer you for further test,” Fr. Richard recounted the Friday, March 20 experience, adding that the altar boy who had accompanied him to the hospital was told to “isolate himself.”

He added, “I even shared with the doctor who called me to give me the information that I tested positive (that) I’ve not had any of these symptoms. And the doctor told me that you see different people responded differently to this infection. It is mild in your case meaning that probably because of your immune system is strong.”

“I was taken to Mbagathi hospital and admitted that Friday Night; samples were taken on Saturday and the results came out at around 11 a.m. on Sunday,” Fr. Richard recounted.

He was later transferred to Kenyatta hospital, Kenya’s oldest and largest health facility that serves as the referral hospital for the Ministry of Health and the teaching hospital of the University of Nairobi College of Health Sciences.

“Regarding treatment, I was told there is none but I would be given medical support and my immune system would be able to fight it,” Fr. Richard said, adding that he has been taking “Paracetamols” and remaining in isolation since March 22.

“As from today, I was told since I had no signs, there is no need to take Paracetamols and they were dropped,” Fr. Richard who has been a priest since May 2018 told ACI Africa March 26, adding that he has also been given vitamin C and antiobiotics.

The Governor of Siaya County, Cornel Rasanga has been quoted as confirming that eight people suspected to have interacted with Fr. Richard during the funeral have tested negative for COVID-19.

“The two cases of Utawala, the Priest there received a message from the Ministry of Health that they were all negative,” Fr. Richard said referencing Fr. Bosco who hosted him when he arrived from Rome and the cook who used to bring him food.

He recalls having had a nine-hour interaction with a priest friend on March 14, including driving in the same vehicle to the funeral and participating in the burial ceremony, but the priest has not exhibited any symptoms of COVID-19.

Considering the social interactions Fr. Richard had during his three-day stay at his ancestral home within Siaya County, the Archbishop of Kisumu, Philip Anyolo has called upon “Priests, Religious Men & Women, and Lay Faithful who attended the burial in Ugunja on 14^th March 2020 to heed the call by the Ministry of Health to self-quarantine and subsequently seek medical attention in case of distress.”

“We should desist from stigmatization and misinformation since nobody knowingly puts the other in danger in regard to this pandemic,” Archbishop Anyolo who doubles as the Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) stated in his March 25 pastoral message.

“I think the best thing will be to cooperate with them, finish the treatment,” Fr. Richard told ACI Africa referencing Kenya’s Ministry of Health and added, “There is a lot going on but the best thing is to forget about it and concentrate on my healing process.”

“I am in touch with my Bishop and he is very supportive,” the cleric of Torit diocese in South Sudan said referencing Archbishop Stephen Ameyu who was installed as the Local Ordinary of Juba Archdiocese March 22 and appointed the Apostolic Administrator of Torit.

The official estimated incubation period for COVID-19 is 2-14 days. Fr. Richard’s narrative of his experience with the doctor and the subsequent media reports seem to put to question Kenya’s capacity to test for COVID-19, which is part of the measures required to control the spread of this deadly virus that has more than 383,000 confirmed cases globally.