At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, volunteers across the country displayed exceptional kindness, selflessness and compassion for the community, and their efforts helped people stay safe and believe in a better future.
One such example was in Kilifi county, particularly the Ganze region, where Joseph Katana, 59, was instrumental in providing hope to the people in his locality. Throughout the pandemic, he advocated improved access to quality medical care and decongestion in hospitals, while offering poor sick people medical services at a subsidised fee.
During the onset of Covid-19 in 2020, Katana watched news of how the coronavirus was spreading rapidly around the world with devastating consequences on patients, healthcare workers, health systems and economies.
As it reached low and middle-income countries, its effects were predicted to be direr. Such countries had a great shortage of healthcare providers, who were also at risk due to lack of personal protection equipment.
Social distancing was also thought to be impossible and the necessary resources to treat patients were in short supply, leading to gloomy forecasts of a catastrophic loss of life.
It broke Katana's heart to realise that the news broadcast he consumed was a reality in his country, Kenya, and particularly Ganze, where he ethnically originates from.
Residents in his locality have challenges accessing medical services as the health facilities are highly congested, with poor sanitation and a shortage of medical providers and supplies.
"The medical fees are also high, considering most of the population is poor," he said. "I was left feeling hopeless, sad and defeated."
Katana, a certified clinical officer since 2002, says the issue was epic. He felt sorry for the patients who waited for long to have a medical assessment and those who preferred to stay at home to avoid the hustle and bustle in the medical facilities.
As each day passed, Katana hoped for a day when access to affordable, universal and quality medical care services would be common to all, including the poor.
"For there to be change, someone had to take the lead, and I took the responsibility to make a difference," he says.
For there to be change, someone had to take the lead, and I took the responsibility to make a difference
HOW HE STARTED
Speaking to the Star, Katana says he started his advocacy by creating awareness among the residents on the importance of having a medical checkup from qualified medical professionals.
"Most of the residents prefer consultations with traditional medical doctors. They do not believe in conventional medicine," said the father of four.
After frequently speaking with the residents, Katana shifted to addressing decongestion in the health facilities. According to reports, about 600 patients visit the public health facilities in the region daily, which is overwhelming, given the number of healthcare providers in the facilities.
"It was at this phase that the idea of creating a schedule that allowed each patient to be attended to crossed my mind," he said. "I also thought of increasing the number of medical facilities in the region for diversification."
With the help of family, friends and the community, Katana revamped his Huruma Tele Medical Clinic. The goal? was to decongest existing health facilities within the locality and provide medical assistance to the poor and sick at ease and a zero or subsidised fee.
"I had to rethink, adapt and change plans to help the community," he said.
Even though he lacked medical equipment, his determination to create change was so high that using social media, he raised awareness of the medical issues faced in Ganze and requested donations of medical equipment and resources that would help residents in Ganze get access to quality medical care.
"It was a small step, but that step gave a glimmer of hope," said Katana, "we received donations from as far as Switzerland."
He has been a wonderful health advocate. He is a true inspiration to everyone across the region. We see first-hand the hugely important and selfless efforts he makes each day to help others
ROLE DURING PANDEMIC
Having set up Huruma Tele Medical Clinic, Katana, along with CHVs, supported their community's well-being through the provision of timely and accurate medical diagnoses, free of charge to those who were not stable financially and at a subsidised cost for those who could afford. They also manually educated locals about Covid-19 and offered free Covid-19 scanning, facemasks, and sanitisers.
Katana says his age of 59 allows him to play an active role in the community. He says he is lucky enough to enjoy good health at an age where many don't.
"As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, health has become more important in many people's lives," he says.
"This has given me additional motivation to promote health and the well-being activities within the community to keep health at the top of people's agenda."
Agnes Mwikali, a community health volunteer (CHV) in the region, credits Katana for dedicating his time and resources to supporting patients living with chronic medical conditions through his services.
"He has been a wonderful health advocate. He is a true inspiration to everyone across the region. We see first-hand the hugely important and selfless efforts he makes each day to help others," she said.
Rama Mohamed, a resident of Ganze, agrees. "Well done to Joseph and the various volunteer groups throughout the country. The volunteers have certainly made themselves very useful to us throughout the two-plus years of Covid-19," he said.
"It is heartening to see that people like Joseph are still up and running and still providing a service to the more needy and vulnerable within the community."
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