Military salutes medics on frontline in fight against virus

The Kenya Defence Forces on Tuesday showed their solidarity with medical workers by flying military choppers with banners carrying inspirational messages.

One military chopper flew a banner with the words, "God bless medics" while another had the message "Stay at home" urging Kenyans to keep safe to help control the spread of the virus.

Taking to Twitter, The Kenya Defence Forces shared a video of one of the choppers and said, "From one soldier to another! We salute Kenya's Healthcare workers."

Countries around the globe have shown their appreciation for health workers in different ways.

In the UK, citizens, led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson have on several occasions led the country in giving medical workers e a clap for their efforts to contain the virus.

The campaign dubbed 'clap for carers' had citizens giving a tribute to health workers. It started last month with many citizens going to their balconies in one big clap for health workers. The Royal Family joined in saluting the medics.

Kenya has followed suit with the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) announcing on Tuesday it was starting a campaign in conjunction with the Kenya Medical Association and National Nurses Association of Kenya to urge Kenyans to spare a minute every Wednesday at noon to clap for health workers.

In a statement on Tuesday, KEG president Churchill Otieno said, “Finding credible information and delivering it to Kenyans is every journalist’s duty. That duty puts many journalists at risk, but it also helps many avoid burdening our healthworkers and hospitals with sickness."

"We celebrate professionals who selflessly continue to serve on the frontline, and ask the public to make their work easier by staying at home.”

National Nurses Association of Kenya chairman Alfred Obengo, said, “The campaign will impact the lives of health care workers by giving them morale and support which is crucial in dealing with the pandemic."

"Sometimes, just to hear someone tell you that you are doing a good job is all it takes. We depend on their conviction, no matter the circumstances, to treat us every day with their clinical excellence but also to deliver that care with compassion. As among those on the frontline of getting us through this pandemic, we need to shore up their resilience with our gratitude.”

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe has many times called on Kenyans to respect the work medics do.

KNH chief executive Evans Kamuri had raised concerns about mistreatment of some staffers, with some being abused in the course of their duty.

Kagwe has asked Kenyans to obey orders put in place to curb the spread of coronavirus.

"This is not a government disease. It is your disease and my disease," the CS said.