Among the many challenges that COVID-19 has brought about, one major one is the availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Everything about the virus is frightening but having our healthcare workers who are at the frontline against its fight getting infected is too unfortunate.
The rate at which PPE’s are getting used given their nature of being disposable, even the Government’s best efforts are prone to falling short in continuous supply. But private sector and even families are coming through in different capacities in the fight against the disease.
Equity Group Foundation (EGF), with support from the Mastercard Foundation, today announced a commitment of Ksh 1.1 Billion towards provision of PPEs in public hospitals in the country. Of this, Kshs 300 Million is from Equity Bank, Kshs 500 Million is from Mastercard Foundation and a further 300 Million is a donation from the family of the Founding Chairman of Equity Bank Foundation and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Equity Group Holdings Plc Dr. Jame Mwangi.
For good national prioritization and coordination in fighting the pandemic, Equity Group Foundation is working in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.
This initiative started when Dr. Mwangi noticed a group of students and doctors who were raising funds for PPEs for young post graduate students and doctors in Kenyatta National and referral Hospital. He shared the need to help with his family and an agreement was reached to help not only the students, but also doctors, nurses, clinical officers and other medical staff.
“We invited the CEO of the Kenya Medical Association and a group of doctors from KNH and University of Nairobi where we established the need for PPE’s for medical staff handling COVID-19 patients in the country. A team of seven was formed to help structure this initiative,” Dr. Mwangi said.
The team comprised of ENT specialist Prof Isaac Macharia as chairman, specialist anesthetist and critical care specialist Dr. Louis Litswa, Dr. Elizabeth Gitau of Kenya Medical Association, KMPDU secretary general D. Chibanzi Mwachonda, Senior Deputy Director General at the Ministry of Health Dr. David Kariuki, Secretary General of the Nurses Association of Kenya Mr. Alfred Obengo and Dr. Joanne Korir – Quality Assurance of Equity Afia.
The committee will coordinate the implementation of the initiative to ensure availability of PPE’s across the country and will help to scale up a mental wellness support system for medical staff initiated by the Kenya Medical Association (KMA).
During this difficult time, Equity Afia doctors who are alumni of the Equity Leaders Program are running a growing network of Equity Afia medical centres in the country and are working tirelessly to make their contributions towards the fight against COVID-19. In addition, all Equity Afia locations will remain open throughout Kenya to attend to other ailments and thereby relieve public hospitals to prepare and respond to any COVID-19 cases that may arise in their regions.