Kenya has lost a top Kidney specialist stationed at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Dr Were.
Dr were succumbed to COVID-19. He becomes the 11th specialist doctor to succumb to the disease in less than a fortnight.
Dr Were succumbed to the virus on Friday at a city hospital where he had been battling the virus after being in the intensive care unit (ICU) for 10 days.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentist’s Union (KMPDU) hailed Dr Were as a mentor to many people who have passed through his hands in the course of training them.
“KMPDU mourns the loss of eminent nephrologist Prof Were who has succumbed to Covid-19 complications,” KMPU said in a statement.
Prior to his demise, Dr Were was the president of the African Association of Nephrology and deputy director of the East African Kidney Institute.
KMPDU on Monday issued a 21-day strike notice citing that the death of their colleagues is as a result of negligence by the government.
KMPDU secretary-general Dr Chibanzi Mwaboza said that doctors have been forced to work without PPE and insurance cover.
He accused the government of doing little to cushion them from the eventualities of contracting the novel coronavirus which has killed more than 1,300 people in Kenya since March.
“The National Advisory Council has resolved to issue a 21-day strike notice to the Government of Kenya,” said KMPDU.
Dr Mwachonda said the government must before the lapsing of the 21 days issues PPEs to doctors and other health workers and also provide a sound medical cover.
Other specialist doctors who kicked the bucket in the last week due to COVID-19 include: Dr Hudson Alumera (Periodontal Surgeon), Dr Faith Mbuba (Pharmacist), Dr Jackline Njoroge, (Physician)Dr Emarah Asharaf- (Plastic Surgeon), Dr Adisa Lugaliki (Obstetrician Gynaecologist), Dr Ndambuki Mboloi (Pulmonologist), Dr Daniel Alushula (Orthopedic Surgeon), Dr Vladimir Schuckin (Bariatric Specialist), Dr Hudson Inyangale (Public Health Specialist) and Dr Robert Ayisi (Pediatrician).
By Friday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases were 75,193 with 1,349 deaths and 50,984 recoveries.
