Ministry of Health honours fallen healthcare workers

Some 945 healthcare workers have contracted Covid-19 while 16 others have succumbed to the virus in the last six months, the Ministry of Health has said. 

Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr Mercy Mwangangi yesterday led the country in observing a minute of silence in honour of the departed workers describing them as heroes and heroines.   

While presiding over the daily corona briefing, which coincided with world’s Patients Safety Day, Dr Mwangangi singled out health workers for applaud saying they put their lives at risk in the course of duty. 

Besides Covid-19, health workers are also exposed to other infections such as Hepatitis B, HIV, TB, assault and other psychological challenges emanating from being in this noble service to humanity, she said. 

She particularly highlighted risk of infections, stigma, emotional disturbance, violent acts, illness and even death as some of the challenges health workers are going through. 

At the same time, the number of confirmed cases has risen to 36, 576 after 183 more people tested positive from 4, 188 samples tested  in the last 24 hours.

Mwangangi said the youngest is a 7-month-old baby while the oldest is 80 years. Of the 183, 131 are male and 52 are female, she said.

Nairobi leads with 54 new cases followed by Kisumu (26), Mombasa (20), Trans Nzoia (16), Kericho (11) and Nakuru (10).

On a positive note, 82 more patients have been discharged bringing the number of recoveries to 23, 611.

The CAS said 33 were under home-based care programme while 48 were undergoing treatment in various health facilities. 

The number of deaths have hit 642 after five patients succumbed in the last 24 hours.