Everywhere in the world, people have repeatedly been told to frequently wash hands with soap and running water as well as sanitize and clean surfaces around them to avoid catching COVID-19, among other infections.
In offices and homes, cleaning surfaces has become a routine. In health facilities, the situation is not any different. Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces have been heightened to reduce the risk of infection as well as provide health workers and patients with decent and clean places to work and get medical attention. Behind this enhanced hygiene are the cleaners or hygienists, the unsung heroes in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a tiny room is 27-year-old Yusuf Kathure a First Class Cleaning steward and chief hygienist at a health facility in Nairobi County. He is in charge of the general cleanliness at the health facility, a job he has done for the last 10 years. Upon arrival, the first thing he does is slot on his protective gear before touching anything. It is COVID-19 times, so he has to protect himself before anything else.
One by one, he puts on the different elements of his protective equipment that include his overalls, gum boots, plastic apron, heavy duty gloves (these after surgical gloves), goggles and then finally his mask. With the gear in place, he is ready to start his daily duties.
Life and work before COVID-19
When Yusuf first heard of COVID-19, he worried because of the nature of his job and remembered the insufficient protection he had at the time. “I felt unsafe and knew for sure I would be among the first people to catch the disease. I had also heard that many health workers were getting infected and some were dying.”
The cleaning equipment was not any better. The cleaning team used shrubs from the bush and local booms to clean floors with plain water.
The situation is very different today
For Yusuf and many other cleaners, his first stop daily is at a huge drum at the verandah of the facility, where he mixes chlorine granules with water. He must measure the right quantities for handwashing and cleaning surfaces. Once the chlorinated water is ready, his team of two distributes the water to all handwashing stations placed all over the health centre. The water will be used by patients later as they access the various sections for health services.
He then proceeds to use some of the chlorinated water to clean the floors, patients’ benches, and workstations, as well as providing some to other health workers to clean their instruments and equipment. They must reduce the risk of infection at the health centre. In a few minutes, all corners of the facility are clean and disinfected, way before more health workers and patients trickle in.
The general cleaning of the facility is done twice a day but Yusuf is available any time to clean after patients. Without cleaners like Yusuf, health facilities would be unsafe for patients and health workers, especially during pandemics such as COVID-19.
With the new PPE, Yusuf feels safer and ensures that he always wears his gear properly to avoid getting infected.
Yusuf is also among the healthy facility personnel that received training on infection prevention and control. From the training he learnt how to mix the chlorinated water and how to effectively clean the facility.
When asked why he keeps doing what he does despite the risks involved, Yusuf mentions that being appreciated for keeping the health facility clean and reducing the risk of infection makes him very proud.
At First Class Cleaning Services Ltd, we take this oppportunity to thank all cleaning staff in Kenya who are doing their best to clean various facilities and also promote good hygiene practices that keep Covid 19 at bay. Hongera!
