A day after the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary-General Chibanzi Mwachonda warned that there were no spaces left within Intensive Care Units (ICU) across the country, Interior PS Karanja Kibicho has left a section of netizens unimpressed after the Harambee House bogeyman paraded some Jua Kali accredited structures in what he claimed was part of the government’s response to the pandemic.
In a social media post that sparked reactions, Mr. Karanja Kibicho, whether out of ignorance or sheer arrogance described the metallic beds as “ICU Beds” meant to be shared among counties.
https://twitter.com/Karanjakibicho/status/1374658080252776450?s=20
Netizens were, however quick to call out the mediocrity correct of the University of Cape Town graduate (where he acquired a Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering) that the structures he received from the young Kenyan innovators are not actually ICU beds but rather just ordinary, albeit uncomfortable hospital beds just like any other.
“These are just bed frames,” one Twitter user wrote under the post.
“With all humility and respect Me Kibicho have you ever seen how ICU bed looks like?” asked another.
So, What is an ICU Bed?
Like this website explains, ICU beds are used on intensive care units (ICUs), also known as critical care units (CCUs) or intensive therapy units (ITUs). These specialist units provide treatment and care for people who are seriously ill.
Each patient has one or two dedicated nurses and is under constant monitoring.
Additional equipment, like ventilators or feeding tubes, are often used to support high-dependency care needs.
This specialist equipment is uncommon in other hospital wards.
3rd Covid Wave
The reactions by angry netizens to Karanja Kibicho’s are certainly justified given the fact that Kenya is currently staring at a health crisis if the soaring Covid-19 cases continue on an upward trend.
A total of 123,167 people have been confirmed positive so far with the number of patents in need of critical care, especially supplemental oxygen, increasing in recent days.
Another 1,090 people are admitted to various hospitals in the country, the highest number of hospital admissions this year. Out of this, 135 are in critical care 95 per cent of whom are either on ventilatory support or on oxygen.
