KMPDU demands investigation, arrest of those who sneaked Ebola patient into Kenya
KMPDU demands investigation, arrest of those who sneaked Ebola patient into Kenya
KMPDU demands investigation, arrest and prosecution of those who allegedly sneaked Ebola patient into Kenya, says it poses serious public health risk.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has demanded immediate protection for healthcare workers after Kenya confirmed an imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease, calling for medical monitoring of exposed staff and proof that health facilities can handle the disease.
The development comes hours after the Ministry of Health announced the case and confirmed that the patient had died while receiving treatment at Nairobi Hospital. Authorities have since identified 28 contacts linked to the patient as they step up contact tracing and other measures to contain the disease.
According to KMPDU, healthcare workers who may have come into contact with the patient, either at Nairobi Hospital or other points of care, should receive immediate medical monitoring, psychological support and follow-up. The union also called for health facilities to have adequate personal protective equipment, infection prevention measures and trained staff to manage suspected Ebola cases safely.
“Our healthcare workers must not be the weakest link in our response. They must be our first line of protection,” KMPDU Secretary-General Davji Atellah said in a statement on Tuesday.
Further, KMPDU urged transparent and effective contact tracing, regular public updates and confirmation that isolation and treatment facilities at regional referral hospitals are operational, properly equipped and staffed to handle suspected Ebola cases.
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“Preparedness cannot exist only in policy documents,” Atellah said, warning that authorities should not wait for cases to increase before discovering gaps in the country’s response capacity.
KMPDU also called for healthcare workers and their representatives to be included in national and county emergency response structures, saying their experience on the frontline should inform decisions on containment, infection prevention and staff safety.
It also urged counties to provide medical cover for healthcare workers and called on the Social Health Authority to ensure they are not denied services because of delayed employer remittances.
KMPDU will continue monitoring the situation and engaging authorities as Kenya works to contain the Ebola case and protect frontline workers.
“We call on the government to act with urgency, transparency and responsibility. The message is clear; when we protect healthcare workers, we protect the entire country,” Atellah said.
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