Nyanchwa SDA Hospital is the latest CHAK member facility to benefit from a donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from Equity Group Foundation and the Kenya COVID-19 Fund Board. The CHAK member health facility which is located in Kisii County joins other mission hospitals who have benefited from PPE donations by Equity Foundation and the COVID-19 fund worth Ksh33 million.

The donations have benefitted 25 mission hospitals affiliated to CHAK and the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and spread across various counties in Kenya. The PPEs include 750 protective goggles, 25,000 disposable gowns, 500,000 nitrile gloves, 500,000 surgical masks, 750 face shields, 12,500 disposable scrubs, 25,000 head covers, 5,000 coveralls and 50,000 KN95 respirator masks.

Speaking during the official PPE handover ceremony held at CHAK offices earlier in the year, Equity Group Managing Director and CEO, Dr James Mwangi, said the Equity foundation and COVID-19 Fund Board recognized the role played by mission hospitals in the fight against COVID-19 and in contributing to accessible and affordable health care in the country.

“Through KCCB and CHAK, we received a request to support 60 mission hospitals across Kenya. As EGF and the COVID-19 Fund Board, we have saw it prudent to make an initial donation to those mission facilities with active COVID-19 isolation units that are currently managing the care of admitted patients”, said Dr Mwangi.

Speaking during the event, CHAK Chairman Rev. Dr. Robert Lang’at noted that despite the major role played by the faith-based hospitals in the fight against the pandemic, they were faced with PPE shortages due to financial challenges.

“As CHAK, we are privileged to have a presence through our member mission hospitals in 45 out of the 47 counties. The provision of PPEs by Equity Group Foundation and the Kenya COVID-19 Fund Board will play a huge role in safeguarding the lives of our frontline healthcare workers. Faith based mission hospitals have proven to be critical in the country’s COVID-19 response and the PPEs issued today will help us leverage on the unique strengths of the faith community to mitigate the effects of the pandemic,” said Dr Lang’at.

Another 35 mission health facilities will benefit from an additional consignment of PPEs when their COVID-19 inpatient isolation and management units are active.

The benefitting health facilities have established Hospital Liaison Committees to support management of PPEs. They committees are mandated to receive, distribute, oversee proper usage and re-order to ensure consistent supply of the PPEs to the health care workers. The Liaison Committees for each hospital comprises nominated representatives from Equity; and Healthcare worker representatives, a medical doctor, a clinical officer and a nurse who are members of their professional associations, together with the hospital’s stores in-charge.

The distribution of locally manufactured PPEs is an initiative of Equity Group Foundation and the Kenya COVID-19 Fund Board as part of a coordinated effort to support frontline healthcare workers through the provision of PPEs.

Speaking at the event, CHAK chairman REV.Dr. Robert Lang ‘at stated that the covid -19 pandemic had created a tough time for people. He noted that faith based hospitals have been on the frontline providing routine health services, while managing covid-19. Despite the major role played by the faith based hospitals in  the fight against this pandemic, the  hospitals have faced a major challenge of accessing adequate PPEs and financing due to the hard economic challenges.

Equity Group Managing Director and CEO,Dr James Mwangi Said ,out of 32 level 4&5 hospitals recommended for support, Equity Group Foundation had agreed to support them in 3 phases, priority being given to the first 10 hospitals, which are already providing treatment services to covid -19 patients. He also added that the  second phase distribution would focus on the remaining 35 mission health facilities, which will benefit from an additional consignment of PPEs when the covid -19 inpatient isolation and management units are actively in use.KCCB Chairman Rt.Rev.Joseph  Mbatia acknowledged the efforts made by the Equity group foundation and The Kenya covid -19 fund board, pointing out that the donation will go a long way in protecting our health workers and trickle down to benefit communities at the grassroot level.

The PPEs donated include;750 protective goggles,25,000 disposable gowns, 500,000 nitrile gloves,500,000 surgical masks,750 face shields,12,500 disposable scrubs,25,000 headcovers,5,000 coveralls and 50,000 KN95 respirator masks. Faith based hospitals  have continued to complement the government response to covid-19 and have been receiving and managing covid -19 patients, with moderate to severe illness. The hospitals have also set aside isolation wards,ICU beds, oxygen treatment support facilities, trained staff and also established protocol for covid-19 screening,treatment,infection prevention and control. This has resulted to the dire need of PPEs for the protection of frontline staff

The burden of covid -19 pandemic continues to grow in Kenya. As at 16^th June 2021,the country  had recorded 176,622 cases, with 3,428 deaths and 97% of the cases were from local transmission across all the counties. A total of 5369 health workers have been infected, and 40 deaths reported. This includes those from faith based organizations.

The private sector initiative has led the way in providing PPEs for health workers and in promoting local production, which has drastically reduced the cost of PPEs and increased access. The covid-19 fund board and Equity Group Foundation have done exemplary well in leading the covid-19 response in the country. The donations will help a large population of Kenyans who rely on mission hospitals for healthcare services, as well as protect our frontline health workers who serve selflessly.

The event provided  a great platform for CHAK member networks and The Equity Group Foundation to build a long-term relationship, and most importantly collaborate in patient referrals and health workers training.

Focus on CHAK Annual Health Conference 2021

The CHAK Annual Health Conference 2021 was successfully held on April 27 and 28, 2021. This was the first time in the history of CHAK that the event has been held virtually. Participants at the event were drawn from CHAK member health units, stakeholders, partners and other Africa Christian Health Associations.   

With the theme ‘COVID-19 Pandemic; building resilience for Faith Based Health Services’, the conference focused on developments in the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya, role of faith-based health services and facility-based management of the illness.

CHAK Chairman Rt. Rev. Dr. Robert Lang’at set the mood for the conference by delivering the opening devotion focusing on the power of innovation. Basing the opening devotion on Isaiah 63:15-19, Rt. Rev. Dr. Lang’at that every sector, including health care and the Church, had been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemics witnessed over the years had killed millions and destroyed civilisations. The Chairman challenged CHAK member health units to ensure the facilities were not made dinosaurs by the pandemic. “We need to pray to God for innovative ideas in the pandemic,” noted Dr. Lang’at.

The virtual CHAK Annual Health Conference, he noted, was an example of innovation. Dr. Lang’at further challenged the CHAK member health units to use the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic to innovate solutions to various challenges.

Vaccination

Dr. Willis Akhwale, Chairman, COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment Taskforce, gave an overview of the programme roll out and progress. Dr. Akhwale also spoke to the CHAK Annual Health Participants on the emerging issues, planned monitoring and improvements to the vaccine roll out programme. He observed that a third of the COVID-19 vaccinations done country-wide were in Nairobi County with people above 58 years recording the highest number of doses received.  A key discussion point during the session was the role of faith-based health facilities in the vaccination exercise.  Dr. Akhwale noted that faith-based health facilities were key allies to the Government in health service provision and would be tasked with vaccinating the population during the second phase of the exercise, working side by side with county health facilities. Concerns on the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, availability of the second dose of the Astra Zeneca Vaccine for people who have already been given the first dose, level of protection offered by the vaccine and possibility of people making a choice between vaccine brands were also raised by the conference participants.   

Infection Prevention and Control

Speaking on infection prevention and control in a hospital setting, Dr Duncan Nyukuri noted that health facilities were ideal settings for COVID-19 transmission and took participants through the hierarchy of IPC controls. Discussions during the infection prevention session centred on transmission, referral, testing and handling the deceased.

COVID-19 messages of hope and the role of the faith community

Dr. Catherine Njigua, CHAP Uzima Project Director, spoke on the interfaith COVID-19 response, an initiative leveraging on the unique strengths of the faith community to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. The initiative focuses on:

• Promoting behaviour change towards risk reduction
• Dissemination of correct and updated COVID-19 messaging to the community
• Addressing some of the untoward effects of COVID-19 containment measures
• Complement the efforts of the Government in COVID-19 mitigation and promotion of overall well-being for all.

The initiative has actively disseminated seven key messages of hope as follows:

1. Life – not death
2. Hope – not fear
3. Connection – not isolation
4. Positive role model
5. Caring – safely
6. Celebration – not stigma
7. Influence – builds hope, gratitude, compassion

COVID-19 management at facility level

Dr. Douglas Gaitho from Aga Khan University Hospital delivered an insightful presentation on management of COVID-19 at health facility level. Key areas covered in the presentation were:

1. Transmission and symptoms including stages of COVID-19 infection and most common symptoms as well as severity classification.
2. Diagnosis and investigations including testing, laboratory and other investigations
3. Therapies including care of pregnant women
4. Deisolation

The presentation also covered the progress of COVID-19 management through the first second and third waves of the disease.

Lessons from CHAK member health units 

AGC Tenwek and PCEA Chogoria hospitals were able to share their experiences with managing COVID-19 patients.

Focusing on the conference theme of ‘resilience’ and adding ‘hope’ in the drawn-out war against the pandemic, Tenwek Hospital gave a presentation on efforts by the institution to care for thousands of COVID-19 patients while continuing to offer services in other disease areas. Departments and individuals in the institution contributed their talents and strengths towards fighting the pandemic. Allowing only one visitor per patient, COVID-19 screening through temperature checks on entry, handwashing and sanitizing, observing social distancing at all points and appropriate messaging were some of the measures undertaken by the hospital in the fight against the pandemic.

Among the challenges that the hospital has experienced in the fight against the pandemic are:

• Fear
• Staff infections
• Fatigue due to mask wearing, social distancing and travel restrictions
• Wait and see attitude of the staff towards the vaccine

However, staff have now accepted the vaccine and many of them have received the injection. They have proceeded to serve tirelessly, competently and courageously in efforts to defeat the virus.     

Conclusion

The CHAK Annual Health Conference 2021 offered a rich learning experience for CHAK member health facilities as the world at large and Kenya in particular continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. Being the first virtual annual health conference for CHAK, the forum is an example of the ‘new normal’ each of us has had to grapple with since the advent of the pandemic in early 2020 and the importance of innovation and resilience, two subjects covered at length in the forum, in overcoming the challenges associated with the disease.

Despite a seemingly flattening COVID-19 curve by the end of February 2021, the Government has continued to announce a daily increase in the number of infections and deaths.

CHAK member health units have responded to the challenge of COVID-19 by taking various measures including establishment of isolation centres, well-equipped COVID-19 wards with oxygen supply, community sensitization, seeking support from different partners, among others.
It is against this backdrop that CHAK re-doubled its efforts to build the capacity of its member units to deal with the pandemic, reaching over 450 of the health facilities under its umbrella with these efforts.

Read more: Equipping CHAK health facilities for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic

Murang’a County has launched its first Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan (FP CIP). The plan which will run from 2021-2015 was launched on December 14, 2020, in an event presided over by the Deputy Governor Hon. Maina Kamau and attended by the county health team led by CEC Health Hon. Joseph Mbai.

The CHAK team at the event was led by General Secretary Dr. Samuel Mwenda. The Murang’a County Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan has been developed with support from the CHAK CAPFA project with funding from Christian Connections for International Health.

Read more: CHAK, Muranga County collaboration births first FP CIP in central region