Nakuru hospital cuts services over Covid-19 cases

Nakuru Level Five Hospital has suspended elective surgeries for two weeks due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

  

Union officials claim more than 20 health workers have contracted the virus, with the hospital now banning visitors to stem further infections at the facility, which also serves Kericho, Baringo, Nyandarua, Samburu and Narok counties.

Meanwhile, workers’ unions on Sunday raised the alarm over the increasing cases of infections among medics, even as it emerged that an intern had died of the virus.

“It is prudent for us to cancel elective surgeries and move them out further on the calendar. However, the hospital is still conducting emergency surgeries and other urgent procedures,” said Health executive Gichuki Kariuki

Dr Kariuki said the move was part of measures to safeguard the well-being of patients.

This means more than 50 patients scheduled for non-urgent surgeries that include hip replacements, cataract extraction , ligament repairs, appendectomy among others, will have to wait for at least two weeks. At least 100 patients underwent elective surgeries at the facility last month, according to hospital records