Ministry reviewing guidelines, control policy, says Mwangangi
Ministry of Health is in the process of reviewing the Infection Prevention and Control Policy and Guidelines to align it in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic.
The review of the guidelines will streamline coordination, enhance documentation and institutionalisation in respect of infection prevention and control right from the community level.
Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr Mercy Mwangangi said yesterday the Ministry of Transport is also finalising the development of protocols for use during travel.
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Mwangangi said during a meeting with the National Assembly Health Committee that to address the health and safety of persons travelling between urban and rural areas by public transport, they will have to comply with strict measures which include testing.
“The government has already gazetted Covid-19 regulations under the Public Health Act.
The regulations outline several measures that include, and are not limited to, among other measures PSVs screening passengers before boarding buses for travelling, ensuring passengers have face masks and sanitising passengers before entry,” Dr Mwangangi said.
Drivers will also be required to write down names of passengers suspected to be sick and action take. Also persons travel with documentation from a registered health care practitioner.
She told the committee that inter-county Covid-19 screening passengers’ points have been established, Social distancing of 1.5 meters distance queuing for PSV/Bus before travelling.
Responding to a question by Maragua MP Mary Wamaua regarding home Births and Routine Immunisations for children during the Covid-19 pandemic, Mwangangi said there is a marginal reduction of absolute number of children reached for Immunization services from a monthly average of 107,300 last year to an average of 98,000 children for the period after onset of the Covid-19.
Overall, 606,000 children were vaccinated between January and June 2020, compared to 643,000 children vaccinated during the same period last year.
“It is expected to decline again moderately in the face of above challenges, and vaccine supply issues,” she said.
To support expectant mothers who opt to give births at home including access to medical assistance or referral Services after births, the ministry she said, has put measures in place to encourage and ensure continued access to skilled deliveries in health facilities.
Mwangangi said the ministry of Health strongly discourages Home deliveries due to the fact that the country does not have a human resource and reproductive health commodity support system in place to manage home deliveries or handle emergencies that can routinely arise from any birth occurrence.
