How To Care For COVID-19 Patients At Home As Medics Face Congestion

The number of confirmed cases of COVID 19 patients has hit over 4,000 as the nation’s crosses the 3-month mark since its first case.

The hospitals are overwhelmed and the option to have an asymptomatic patient cared for at home is as in action.

With 8 years of devolution, it is a shame if not an insult to the public for a county to have a 10-bed capacity for ICU.  With the carefree nature among Kenyans, hospitals are already complaining of congestion forcing the discharge of COVID-19 asymptomatic patients.

As we become caregivers, it is important to protect ourselves even as we care for the sick in our homes as it is in our safety that the patients do not need to worry about re-infection.

Learn to help the patient follow medication and instruction, as most symptomatic patients get better after 7 days during which you ought to stock up prescribed fever medication.

Ensure the patient is well hydrated, rested, and strictly follows the rules that come with quarantine and isolating to safeguard the lives of others.

Ensure there are NO PETs in the space within which your patient reaches as COVID-19 is known to catch even animals.

Pets do not understand COVID-19 and that they could be a carrier so it is your responsibility as the caregiver to ensure there no pets anywhere around the patient.

Highly consider shopping online and if you need errands carried outside the home, let it NOT be done by you or the patients as you are both not only open to other infections but also because you have a responsibility to isolate and safeguard others.

The caregiver should not be someone who is at a higher risk of dying of COVID 19 such as over 60 years old and those with pre-existing conditions.

The home based care protocol has been developed to provide a solution in the management of the increasing numbers & the anticipated surge in the COVID-19 cases. #KomeshaCorona update.

— Ministry of Health (@MOH_Kenya) June 10, 2020

Ensure the room is well-lit with a circulation of fresh air, avoid funs but ensure open windows all day and ensure minimum to no physical interaction with other members in the house, who all should wear face masks

Ensure all surfaces are regularly sanitized and minimize sharing of utilities, where not possible, correctly sanitize as instructed by the Ministry of Health Home-Based Care guidelines

Always wear correctly a quality facemask when caring for a COVID 19 patient and DO NOT at all times entertain visitors other than officials from the Ministry of Health,

The rest of the house members should not share any utensils; cloths and contact objects such as remote and phone.

Gloves used by caregivers should be thrown discarded well thereafter with immediate correct hand washing.

COVID 19 caregivers should stay home and monitor their health while caring for the sick and 14 days after the care is complete to ensure they are also free of the virus.

Learn more about the home-based isolation and care guidelines for patients with COVID-19  here.

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