The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) welcomes the appointment of its Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Dennis Miskellah, to the National Ebola Disease Taskforce, following the Union’s call for direct representation in Kenya’s national outbreak preparedness and response coordination mechanism.
The appointment was made by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale in a letter dated 19 October 2026. It follows a formal request by KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Bhimji Atellah seeking the Union’s inclusion in the taskforce to ensure that the expertise and perspectives of medical practitioners are represented in decisions affecting outbreak response and healthcare workers’ safety.
Advancing Frontline Representation in Outbreak Response
During its National Advisory Council (NAC) meeting held on 16 October 2026, KMPDU deliberated on Kenya’s outbreak preparedness and response strategy and resolved that the Union should actively participate in the national coordination mechanism.
The Union subsequently engaged the Ministry of Health, emphasising that doctors and their representative organisations must be involved in shaping response measures, strengthening communication and ensuring that the safety and welfare of healthcare workers remain central to national preparedness efforts.
Frontline healthcare workers play a critical role in detecting, managing and responding to infectious disease outbreaks. Their practical experience is essential in identifying gaps in preparedness, assessing workplace risks and ensuring that response plans can be implemented safely and effectively in healthcare facilities.
Supporting Kenya’s National Ebola Response
The National Ebola Disease Taskforce was constituted to provide strategic leadership and coordinate Kenya’s response following confirmation of an imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease on 6 October 2026.
As a member of the taskforce, Dr. Miskellah is expected to contribute to deliberations on outbreak preparedness and response, support coordination and communication, mobilise the constituency he represents and participate in implementing the taskforce’s decisions and action points.
KMPDU’s representation provides a formal channel through which the concerns and professional insights of doctors can contribute to national response planning, particularly on issues affecting healthcare delivery and the protection of frontline personnel.
Protecting Healthcare Workers Must Remain a Priority
KMPDU has consistently called for adequate personal protective equipment, functional isolation and infectious disease treatment facilities, appropriate staffing and safe working conditions for healthcare workers involved in outbreak response.
The Union maintains that protecting healthcare workers is fundamental to protecting the public. Doctors and other frontline personnel must have the equipment, training, support and safe working environments required to provide care without avoidable occupational risks.
Meaningful participation by healthcare workers and their representative organisations in emergency planning is therefore essential to building a response that is coordinated, practical and responsive to conditions on the ground.
From Representation to Meaningful Action
KMPDU will continue to engage the Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders to advance the welfare of doctors and strengthen the role of healthcare professionals in decisions affecting the health sector.
The Union recognises the importance of coordination, accountability and responsible communication throughout the outbreak response. Information relating to patients, contacts and confidential taskforce deliberations must be handled through the authorised channels established by the Ministry of Health.
The appointment of Dr. Miskellah marks an important step in securing formal representation for doctors within the national coordination structure. KMPDU will continue advocating for measures that protect healthcare workers, strengthen preparedness and safeguard the health of the Kenyan public.
Protecting those who care for the nation is an essential part of protecting the nation itself. KMPDU remains committed to ensuring that doctors’ voices, safety and professional expertise are integral to Kenya’s public health response.
