Continuity of care in a safe environment

The spread of the COVID 19 pandemic has disrupted our normal daily activities including the delivery of healthcare services. However, our healthcare needs have not changed. Pregnant women still require their ante-natal care, children need to be on schedule for their vaccinations, emergencies need to be attended to, people living with chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, cancer and others still require access to physicians, for continuity of care.

While one appreciates that the delivery of care may be disrupted by the movement restrictions and the need for social distancing, it is important that we in the healthcare sector ensure continuity of services so that all patients receive the care they need, promptly. If we fail to do so we risk an even bigger healthcare crisis in the near future.

With the fear of going into hospitals now rife amongst us, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi has heeded the government’s call to ensure continuity of care for all, by enhancing safety measures for patients and staff and communicating these to the public.

Safety in hospitals

As a standard, safety at the hospital is a top priority for any healthcare provider. Now with the reality of COVID-19, we are even more vigilant. We have, for example, formed a disinfection team consisting of members who are specially trained by Infectious Disease experts to clean and disinfect the Hospital and Outreach clinics 24 hours 7 days a week, for the safety of all persons utilizing our services. In line with the government’s directive, everyone visiting our facilities (the Hospital and clinics) is screened on entry and their temperature is measured. All persons must wear a mask and sanitize their hands before entry into the facility. We are also enforcing social distancing rules and have arranged for additional waiting areas for patients.

Safety of healthcare workers

One of the biggest challenges for countries who were hit by the pandemic earlier than us was the high infection rates amongst healthcare workers. This is thought to have accelerated community infections in some of the countries. The safety of healthcare workers has, therefore, been a top priority for us. We prioritized training for all our staff on COVID-19 even before the first case was reported in Kenya. Besides ensuring that we have appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for our caregivers. We spent a substantial amount of financial resources to ensure that we have 6 months’ worth of PPE supplies for our care providers and staff. We have also issued all our staff with masks, digital thermometers and individualized hand sanitizers to ensure their safety at all times.

Free COVID-19 testing

To enhance the safety of patients and caregivers, we have introduced free COVID-19 testing for all our in-patients, surgical and day surgery patients as part of our safety measures to provide a safe environment for all patients and staff. This will also enable us to determine the best approach to care for our patients including the appropriate use of PPEs during their stay in the Hospital. We continue caring for all patients and have made arrangements for separate facilities and isolation wards for patients who might need them. Strict safety protocols are observed.

Telemedicine

We understand that some patients such as the elderly might not be able to come to hospital even when they need care. Therefore, we have introduced Telemedicine services especially for patients who might benefit from this initiative and just need a follow-up. Through this, patients continue receiving the quality care they need from their trusted doctor, via phone or zoom. The service is augmented by mobile laboratory and pharmacy delivery services, both of which are offered free of charge to ensure you continue to receive care, as your health matters to us.

The World Health Organization has indicated that coronavirus may be with us for a while. We must, therefore, find a way to adapt to the new normal and continue with our lives. Thus, delivery of healthcare in a safe environment is our priority.

 By Dr Shawn Bolouki, Vice President, Health Services and Chief Executive Officer, Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi