NAIROBI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A rise in the number of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients has made Kenya implement a home-based care model to cushion its health system from being overrun by the disease.
The home-care system would see COVID-19 patients get treated at home, especially those in the capital Nairobi and the coastal city of Mombasa.
The two regions account for the bulk of infections in the country, with the disease fast-spreading in the community.
The adoption of the program makes Kenya the only country in the region to go that route as cases of community transmission surge.
The east African on Wednesday recorded 254 new cases to bring the total tally of infections to 5,206, with the Ministry of Health noting the disease would continue to spread.
"About 78 percent of our patients are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, which enables us to implement the home-based care system since they can comfortably be taken care of at home," said Mary Mwangangi, the health chief administrative secretary.
Mwangangi observed that the home-care system, which has taken off following the launch of guidelines, would help cushion the country's health care system from being overwhelmed.
"It is no longer tenable to isolate patients in hospitals in Mombasa and Nairobi in particular, two regions which bear the biggest burden," said Mwangangi.
Patients in the home-based system will be under the care of community health workers unlike those in hospitals who are taken care of by doctors and nurses and other medical specialists.
"Before one is released to continue with treatment at home, we must ascertain that this is possible. We visit their homes to access them and take views of their family members," said Mwangangi, noting this is part of feasibility work done.
The home should be well-ventilated and have a room with a toilet and bathroom, which can be used for hosting the patient.
"One should also have basic personal protective equipment and a community health worker to cater for them," added Patrick Amoth, the health director-general.
The family members are then empowered to act as caregivers alongside the community health worker.
The community worker is expected to monitor the patient daily and report progress, particularly checking if one has developed any signs that require hospital isolation.
"To be eligible for the program, one must be asymptomatic, have no underlying condition or show mild symptoms like having fever only. Lifestyle diseases are some of the risk factors in COVID-19. This must be checked to save lives," said Amoth.
He said one of the main works of the community health worker is to ensure the patient does not breach the protocols and guidelines set under the program.
"In case of breach, one would be taken to hospital isolation to protect them from spreading the disease in the community," he said.
However, the health officials acknowledged that the main challenge of the success of the program is stigma.
"There is a rise in the stigma of COVID-19 patients and this can be worse under the home-based care system but the government is doing all it can to ensure the community does not stigmatize patients," said Mwangangi.
The home-care system is thus expected to offer relief to Kenya as the disease spread in the community continues to soar. Enditem
