1000 Medics To Be Recruited To Help In Combating Covid-19

The Government through the Ministry of Health is expected to recruit up to 1000 medics to help in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

While addressing the nation on Thursday, April 9, 2020, the Deputy President announced that the health workers will be announced and their names gazetted before the end of the week.

DP Ruto said the recruitment is a move to boost the country’s capacity to manage and contain the spread of Covid-19 especially at the time when more tests are expected to be conducted.

Since Kenya is planning to conduct massive tests, the number of patients tested positive is likely to go up thus without enough medics, the situation could be unbearable.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the lives of everyone, but it has turned the lives of medics upside down and inside out. We should appreciate the work they do to ensure we survive this pandemic by staying home.”

DP Ruto noted that mass tests will help determine the extent of Covid-19 as well as the management and containment of the virus.

The Kenya Medical Research Institute which has been charged with the responsibility of rolling out new Covid-19 test kits said they will make them available soon, giving an unspecified date.

KEMRI said they would conduct up to 5000 tests daily in case they manage to procure the test kits. The agency will use HIV and TB test machines to conduct the tests which are said to be more efficient and could give tests within 24 hours.

The move is a joint initiative between KEMRI, Africa CDC and World Health Organization.

During his speech, the DP urged Kenyans to chip in and help in every way possible during the covid-19 pandemic. He encouraged Kenyans to donate a share of their salaries to the agencies that are helping to fight covid-19.

Counties have also been directed to adjust their budgets accordingly to help cushion Kenyans during these tough times.

However, he noted that most Kenyans are still doubtful and have not yet come into reality that Covid-19 is here is posing a serious threat to humanity.