Kiambu County launched the first Infection Prevention and Control Advisory Committees (CIPCAC) Action Plan 2022-2023.
Health CECM Dr. Joseph Murega stated that the IPC Action Plan is designed to prevent and control infections and transmission in all health care settings. It is essential for a functioning health system.
“Many hospitals remain deficient in competent health care workers on infection prevention and there is an acute awareness of the need to correct this shortfall. Implementation of IPC guidelines are essential in all health care facilities for the wellbeing and safety of patients, staff, visitors and all who come within the scope of patient care activities” said Murega.
The health CECM said that the committee would train health practitioners in all county hospitals and bring on board private facilities in an effort to prevent infection to patients and health workers.
He stated that no country, nor any health care facility, not even the most advanced and sophisticated, can claim to be completely free from health care-associated infection (HAIs).
“Many cases of infections occurring in a patient during the process of care in a hospital or other health care facility that was not present or incubating at the time of admission have since been reported hence the need to train health workers in both public and private hospitals on the same,” cited the county health CECM.
Infection Prevention and Control-IPC in healthcare settings is a vital quality benchmark for a functioning health system.
The action plan will allow for the equipping of healthcare facilities and open up the possibility of mobilizing resources to implement standard precautions to prevent or contain healthcare-associated infections.
To develop the Action Plan, the department of health partnered up with Medicines, Technologies and Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS), a USAID-funded program.
The actual burden of Healthcare Associated Infections or Community-Associated Infections (HAIs and CAIs) in Kenya is unknown. However, MOH has estimated that HAIs account approximately 10-25 percent hospital admissions. This increases mortality and prolongs hospital stay.
The Kenya Health Policy 2012-2030 and the National Infection Prevention and Control Policy for Health Care Services (Kenya 2015) were the guides for the review of the Kenya National Strategic Plan for Infection Prevention and Control. This strategic plan aims to achieve the KHP’s aspirations to provide affordable and quality health care for all Kenyans.
By Grace Naishoo
Source: kenyanews
