Penda Health, a medical services provider based in Nairobi, has handed over a donation of equipment to the Nairobi Metropolitan Services in continued support to the fight against COVID-19. The healthcare provider, which sits on the Kenya Healthcare Federation’s COVID-19 Response Team is seeking to protect its staff as well as the general public from the deadly virus as Fred Odhiambo writes.
Penda Health donated medical and protective equipment to the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) through Mbagathi Hospital as part of its continued support to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya.
The donated equipment included goggles, disposable masks, N95 masks, thermometers and full protective personal equipment sets.
The Head of Clinical Services of Penda Health, Dr. Gabriel Njue, said: “As infections rise steadily in the country, it is critical that health workers and other frontline soldiers, who are at increased risk due to the nature of their work, are protected while on the line of duty. We have to protect them at all costs to avoid exposure to the virus.”
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, five health workers are amongst those who have so far been exposed to the virus.
Speaking when she received the donations, the CEO at Mbagathi Hospital, Dr. Loice Mutai said: “We greatly appreciate the support and collaboration from Penda Health. We all have to work together if we are to win the war against COVID-19. Our fight against the spread of the virus has many fronts – from running isolation facilities, mass testing and contact tracing to testing food handlers and maintaining portable handwashing points.”
The donation to NMS follows Penda Health’s earlier donations of medical and protective equipment to four county hospitals, ten sub-county hospitals and the rapid response team in Nairobi County; one county hospital and one sub-county hospital in Kiambu County; and 15 chief’s offices and police stations in the two counties.
In addition to the donations of medical and protective equipment, Penda Health has been actively involved in providing healthcare and information to aid the fight against the pandemic. Its centres have been providing healthcare services, while keeping staff protected with personal protective equipment. Pigia Penda, a 24-hour free virtual consultation service enables patients to speak to medical professionals and get answers to their questions on COVID-19. Penda Health is part of the coordinated efforts against the pandemic, and sits on the Kenya Healthcare Federation’s COVID-19 Response Team.