Deadly virus claims yet another doctor, 72 hours after specialists
George Kebaso @Morarak
The country has lost another healthcare worker to the novel coronavirus, the third in just less than three days.
Dr Omar Said, a clinician based at Dr Osur Hospital in Kajiado, yesterday succumbed while undergoing treatment at the Nairobi Hospital.
According to Dr Ahamed Kalebi, a consultant pathologist with Lancet Laboratories, the deceased is said to have contracted the disease while on duty attending to his patients in Kajiado.
Kalebi is the deceased’s former boss. He took to his social media account to narrate how Said was admitted at the Nairobi Hospital a few days ago with severe Covid-19 symptoms that had savagely affected his lungs.
“Inna lillahi wa’inna ilaihi raaji’un. This is so painful right now. Losing a senior clinician from Kibra daktari Saidi (Omar Said) formerly of AMREF and recently moved to Dr Osur Hospital in Kajiado,” Kalebi wrote.
His death came only two days after kidney disease specialist and physician, Dr Anthony Were and Dental surgeon Dr Nira Patel, both succumbed to Covid-19.
Were died 10 days after contracting the virus, while Patel succumbed barely two days after testing positive to Covid-19.
Said’s death brings to 13 the number of healthcare workers who have succumbed since the deadly virus hit the country on March 13.
“Despite his critical condition, he still managed to communicate to us his colleagues from Kibra and asked us to pray for him, and preparing us for the eventuality knowing his situation, even sending us a photo of himself while in isolation in Intensive Care Unit on high-flow oxygen - all along knowing he was bidding us farewell,” Kalebi further said.
Kalebi said it is harrowing for health care workers to see his colleagues succumb to coronavirus.
“A few times I have had an opportunity to interact with colleagues - who by the nature of their health situations, are terminally ill – but are still able to communicate.
Daktari Saidi knew and was at peace when we spoke this morning. He was a great clinician and remained a great mentor right to the very end,” Dr Kalebi mourned his friend.
Sad story
He further wrote; “Survivors guilt setting in as I think of why very good medics I know, especially senior colleagues are getting severe Covid-19 and dying from being in the front line - despite seemingly doing everything right, while some like me are surviving.”
Said was affiliated to the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), and members of the union mourned him.
“Another day, another sad story. May God rest his soul in eternal peace, Amen,” KUCO mourned.
Last Monday, the ministryb announced that within just 24 hours, four doctors had succumbed to Covid-19 increasing concerns about the safety of frontline workers.
Subsequently, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union issued a three-week strike notice expected to be effective in two weeks time.
