Kenya, Eswatini mourn loss of doctors due to COVID-19

By Felix Tih

ANKARA (AA) - Kenya and Eswatini on Friday announced the first deaths of doctors on the front lines of the novel coronavirus pandemic, local media reported.

The deceased Kenyan doctor was the 39-year-old mother of 13-year-old twins, who is suspected to have had an underlying medical condition, according to local daily The Standard.

"The doctors there are still traumatized from the loss of one of their own, under their care as they tried to save her life,” The Standard quoted a source from the hospital where she was being treated.

"We have lost one of our own as a doctors' fraternity to COVID-19. A young doctor with so much to offer," tweeted Dr. Mercy Korir, a Kenyan Medical journalist.

On Wednesday, Kenyan Health Minister Mutahi Kagw said some 257 Kenyan health workers had contracted the coronavirus since the first case was confirmed in March.

Kenya has recorded 8,975 coronavirus cases so far, with 173 deaths and 2,657 recoveries, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Separately, the Kingdom of Eswatini in Southern Africa also announced the first death of one of its healthcare workers due to the coronavirus.

Dr. David Wasswa, 75, succumbed to COVID-19-related complications after being admitted to one of the country's private hospitals on Thursday morning, the Swaziland Times reported on Friday.

It said Wasswa's death was announced by Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi, during a press briefing at the Cabinet Offices.

The small kingdom has recorded 1,138 coronavirus cases so far, with 14 deaths and 588 recoveries, according to Africa CDC.

The total number of infections across the continent is now over 541,000, with more than 12,400 deaths and almost 265,000 recoveries, according to Africa CDC.

Across the world, COVID-19 has claimed over 555,000 lives in 188 countries and regions since emerging in China last December.

Over 12.2 million cases have been reported worldwide, with the US, Brazil, India and Russia currently the worst-hit countries, according to figures compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University.

The data shows more than half of all patients worldwide -- over 6.75 million -- have recovered so far.