In Kibera, the largest slum settlement in Nairobi, MSF is supporting the Kibera South Health Centre, a health facility built and previously run by MSF. The team of seven staff is assisting with infection prevention and control, triage, screening, and managing referral of suspect cases to a nearby hospital.
In Homa Bay, we are prioritising remote support and home visits to vulnerable patients (people with advanced HIV and chronic illnesses) to avoid their potential exposure to COVID-19 through hospital visits. At Homa Bay regional hospital the team has set up triage, screening, and an isolation room. We are also providing basic equipment and kits for people in quarantine.
In Nairobi, Kiambu, Dadaab, Malela and Mombasa counties, our teams are supporting health facilities by conducting awareness-raising sessions and training in COVID-19 patient care, and providing logistical support.
In Dagahaley camp in Dadaab—Kenya’s largest refugee camp—we have also set up an isolation unit that can provide beds for up to 40 COVID-19 positive patients.
In Mombasa, MSF is supporting the Department of Health to provide comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care in the Mrima health centre. Three isolation rooms have been set up, which will allow women who have COVID-19 to give birth safely.
Across many of the healthcare facilities that MSF teams work from, patients with chronic diseases have been provided with a three-month supply of their medications to reduce their risk of COVID-19 exposure. Mental health consultations to survivors of sexual violence are continuing over the phone during the pandemic.
Potentially new activities are limited by the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) – teams are attempting to replenish stock through local channels.