Maintaining care delivery for non-communicable diseases in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic in western Kenya

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic
has disrupted health systems worldwide, gravely
threatening continuity of care for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), particularly in lowresource settings. We describe our efforts to
maintain the continuity of care for patients with
NCDs in rural western Kenya during the COVID-19
pandemic, using a five-component approach:
1) Protect: protect staff and patients;
2) Preserve: ensure medication availability and
clinical services; 3) Promote: conduct health
education and screenings for NCDs and COVID-19;
4) Process: collect process indicators and implement
iterative quality improvement; and 5) Plan: plan for
the future and ensure financial risk protection in the
face of a potentially overwhelming health and
economic catastrophe. As the pandemic continues
to evolve, we must continue to pursue new avenues
for improvement and expansion. We anticipate
continuing to learn from the evolving local context
and our global partners as we proceed with our
efforts.