the Kenyan health-worker Chinese style. I
will not look down on any health-worker
who declines to work without adequate
protective clothing when dealing with a
confirmed case of Coronavirus.
That said and done we have also seen
videos from many places that have been
able to get to what medics are calling
flattening the curve i.e. they have brought
the spread of the virus under control.
These countries such as Japan and the
Czech Republic have attributed this to
widespread use of masks by everyone
whether or not they have the disease.
It may not be feasible for the Government
to issue every Kenyan a fresh surgical
mask every day so I would definitely
recommend that ordinary citizens cover
their noses and mouths at all times while
outside their dwellings and all sick people
to wear masks at all times.
Even as a medical person I must repeat
what we already know. The single most
important step in infection prevention
is… wait for it… yes hand washing. That
simple just wash your hands as often as
possible and if that is not feasible then
walk around with hand sanitizer in your
pocket but do hand wash ever so often.
After every five uses of the hand sanitizer
it is always advisable to wash your hands.
There are several videos from professionals,
media personalities and even adorable
ones from children. Kindly watch (if you
haven’t already done so) and do practice
hand hygiene. The reason behind this is
that Covid-19 is spread both via airborne
and droplet infection. When you touch
surfaces you pick up viral particles and
when they come in contact with mucus
membranes i.e. eyes, nose, mouth they
gain entry into the body. Message: Wash
Your Hands As Often As You Can!
This article would be incomplete without
over emphasizing on what we already
know but somehow don’t seem to either
comprehend or want to be compliant
with. Stay At Home! This can make a
difference between life or death.
Death does not necessarily have to be
yours but if you think about it we have
many people we love who would be very
vulnerable in the event of an outbreak. My
mother for example is 67 years and we all
know majority of deaths have been in the
elderly people across the world.
To protect our parents, and if blessed to
still have them around our grandparents,
kindly avoid visiting them. Organize
such that there should be no visitors who
come but ensure they receive supplies
which should be decontaminated prior to
entering their premises. It is a time where
staying away from your parents is actually
now a sign of true love!
I know this is a big challenge but
Covid-19 is here with us and yes it’s the
government’s responsibility to take care
of its’ citizens but it is also the duty of
every citizen to do their part in stopping
transmission. Stay safe and be blessed but
life will never be the same again even after
Coronavirus.
Dr. Maureen Owiti is a practicing
Obstetrician Gynaecologist and
fertility consultant based in Nairobi.
You can commune with her on this
or related matters via email at:
[email protected].