Despite the restrictions imposed on access to healthcare by COVID-19, and strikes by healthcare workers, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) continued to run programmes across the country. In Nairobi, medical services, phone-based counselling for victims of sexual and gender-based violence, and our trauma room and ambulance services were a lifeline for many patients, including women in labour.

In March, we launched our medical programme for people who use drugs in Kiambu. Our one-stop facility provides opioid substitution therapy, treatment for diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis, mental health support and wound care.

In Homa Bay, our team continues to work on improving HIV care, focusing on patients with advanced HIV, as well as children and adolescents. Reducing the mortality at the county’s apex hospital through better identification, management, and follow-up of patients with critical conditions remains a priority for MSF.

In Embu county, we are working to decentralise and integrate treatment for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes and epilepsy, within 11 existing general health centres. The project involves mentoring Ministry of Health staff in the care and management of NCDs, as well as guaranteeing continuity of treatment for patients.

Our project in Likoni, Mombasa county, offers maternal and neonatal care. We also assist births and offer ante- and postnatal services. In Dagahaley camp, which hosts some 70,000 refugees, we run a 100-bed hospital and two health posts. Our comprehensive services, which are also available to the host community, include sexual and reproductive healthcare, emergency obstetric surgery, medical and psychological assistance to victims of sexual and gender-based violence, psychosocial counselling, home-based insulin treatment, palliative care and specialist referrals.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we ran a 40-bed isolation facility in the camp and trained staff working for Garissa and Wajir district health authorities on infection prevention and control measures, screening and collecting swabs for testing.