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Daknor Amara, of Egyptian descent, has worked in Kenya for decades
The death of the Egyptian doctor, Ashraf Amara, following his infection with Covid-19 has highlighted the difficulties of medical staff in Kenya, as the authorities there demanded more protective measures for people on the front lines in the fight against the epidemic, as Basilioh Mutahi points out in this report. .
When surgeon Amara, one of western Kenya’s foremost plastic and reconstructive surgeons, contracted the virus, his health began to deteriorate and there were no beds available in the hospital. intensive care unit at Moi Teaching Hospital (MTRA) in Eldoret.
Dr Emara has been teaching medical students for decades at this hospital, which is the second largest teaching hospital in the country.
The doctor’s family and colleagues tried to transport him to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, hundreds of kilometers from his city, but the cost of getting an ambulance to transport him was “very expensive,” according to an official. Kenyan Medical Association.
The same was true of the provision of the drugs needed to help stop her deteriorating condition, which became very difficult to obtain.
Published image, Smile Train Africa
Dr Emara was known to treat children with cleft lip (cleft lip and upper jaw)
“His fellow doctors made donations to buy the drugs needed to stabilize his health,” said Dr Chipanzi Mwatchunda, who acts as general secretary of the Federation of Unions of Doctors, Pharmacists and Dentists before a parliamentary committee. .
“It was a very sad case,” he added, stressing that doctors do not have full medical insurance from the National Insurance Company.
Dr Emara was transferred to a private hospital in Nakuru, a town halfway between Eldoret and Nairobi, until he had a bed available in the intensive care unit of the capital’s hospitals.
However, he passed away a day later, on November 13.
Shortage of doctors
Dr Omara became the fourth medical specialist to die this week, and that is sad news in a country where there are only about 7,000 doctors for every population of 48 million.
His friend Dr Anthony Akuto said that a week before his death he was supervising a surgery and supervising medical students there, and then he showed symptoms of the disease a few days later.
Dr. added. Akuto, who is also an official of the Doctors’ Union: “He died while doing his duty on the front line to cope with the disease”, noting that this death took away the only plastic surgeon, who has great experience like him, in western Kenya.
He continued: “There are few plastic surgeons in the country, and we don’t have another person of his level, although there are some who will come, but we will still suffer from shortcomings in this regard. ”
The RPC roster includes just four plastic and reconstructive surgery specialists across the country as of 2018.
Colleagues of Dr Emara, who was born in Egypt and came to Kenya 30 years ago, say he is a brilliant teacher, supervisor and surgeon who will be sorely missed.
“Sower of smiles”
Dr Emara was famous for the restoration and cosmetic operations of thousands of children born with an upper cleft lip (cleft lip), replanting a smile on their lips, and he was also known to transfer his experiences to surgeons in countries neighbors such as Somalia, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“We are very sad at the departure of our friend and partner,” the charity “Smile Train Africa” said, in a tweet posted on Twitter with a photo of him accompanied by some of the operated children.
She added: Our sincere condolences to his wife, children, friends and colleagues, to the cleft lip patients who have planted a smile on their lips during her lifetime, and to the riders who have trained. and carry his heritage.
Published image, Getty Images
Kenya’s daily coronavirus infection rate has risen in recent weeks
At least 14 doctors have died since the outbreak of the Corona virus began in the country in March.
On Monday, the Federation of Unions of Physicians, Pharmacists and Dentists announced the death of Dr Stephen Moguso, following the contraction of COVID-19.
In addition, around 20 nurses and 10 health workers have died from infection with the virus.
At least 2,000 health workers have been injured, including Dr Mwatchunda, the Medical Association’s top official, who recently spoke about the heavy burden the experience has left on his psychological and mental health.
He told local NTV TV: ‘This is the most difficult time I have had this year … At one point I felt like giving up, or almost giving up. , and I was like, ‘I don’t think I’m going to do it’ and survive. ”
The number of HIV infections in Kenya has risen again in recent weeks, and in November it recorded the highest number of daily infections and deaths since the start of the epidemic in the country.
So far, the total number of injured has reached more than 88,000 cases, including 1,500 deaths.
“We need protection”
Obstetrician and gynecologist Dr Doreen Logaliki was the first Kenyan doctor to die of a coronavirus infection and she died on July 10 at the age of 39.
Published image, Getty Images
Mother of Kenya’s first female doctor to die of coronavirus infection wears photo
Obesity disease surgeon Dr Vladimir Shukin, public health specialist Dr Hudson Iniyangala and pediatrics specialist Dr Robert Ayesi died the same week along with Dr Emara.
The union urged doctors not to go to workplaces “where the environment is not safe”.
Considering the deaths of more medical specialists and the apparent failure of the government to remedy the situation; Doctors have called a strike from the 7th of this month, but decided to postpone it for a week to allow more negotiations.
“How do we fight in a war when our soldiers are falling and their numbers are dwindling? We need protection, ”Dr Mwatchonda told a parliamentary committee.
Two representatives of the unions of nurses and health workers, who went on strike, protested the unsafe working conditions and what they called the government’s poor performance in the face of the coronavirus outbreak.
Unions reported a number of shortcomings in public hospitals, including: poor facilities, understaffing, lack of adequate protective equipment and lack of comprehensive health insurance services, all of which contribute to creating a “Extremely difficult, dangerous and harmful working environment”.
“We believe the government has abandoned healthcare workers, who work almost alone. We do not have adequate protective equipment. Doctors pay medicare lists out of pocket when one of them falls ill while on duty, ”Dr Akuto told the BBC.
He added: “We believe the government is not taking this issue seriously.”
Face the defenseless enemy
The health ministry acknowledged some of these questions raised by unions, but denied abandoning workers. She said their requests would be met and indicated that consultations would continue with them.
“To abandon our troops would be like facing a defenseless enemy,” said Mercy Mwangangi, an official at the Ministry of Health.
Published image, Reuters
Some attribute health service problems to widespread corruption
Some of the problems with health facilities in Kenya are attributed to corruption, as there are allegations that some of the funds allocated to fight the coronavirus have been misappropriated for other purposes.
In September, the Anti-Registry Agency recommended that legal action be taken against senior officials in the Department of Medical Supplies, accusing them of fraudulent offers submitted to the administration, creating irregular spending of funds allocated in this area. The case is still under investigation after the attorney general’s presidency refused to confirm the charges. Those named in this case deny any wrongdoing.
Dr Akuto told the BBC: “It’s quite frustrating … we have doctors who were on the front lines fighting to fight the epidemic, and they haven’t received their pay for four months, and we hear about billions of shillings in the health ministry and medical supply management due to corruption. ”
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