Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has sought to reassure Kenyans over the country's Ebola preparedness measures, insisting that isolation, quarantine, and treatment facilities being established across the country are not intended solely for foreign nationals.
Appearing before Parliament, Duale outlined a series of interventions undertaken by the Ministry of Health to strengthen Kenya's readiness in the event of an Ebola outbreak. He revealed that 29 counties have already identified isolation and treatment centres, while national facilities such as Kenyatta National Hospital and the National Police Service Hospital have set aside specialised beds and infrastructure for emergency response.
The clarification comes amid intense public debate and protests over reports of a planned Ebola quarantine facility in Laikipia linked to cooperation between Kenya and the United States. Critics have questioned whether Kenya is being positioned as a destination for foreign Ebola patients, concerns that have fuelled political opposition and legal challenges.
Duale dismissed these claims, stating that the facilities are part of Kenya's national public health preparedness framework and are designed to protect everyone within the country's borders. He emphasized that the measures are aimed at enhancing surveillance, isolation, treatment, and emergency response capacity for any future outbreak.
According to the CS, Kenya has a standby workforce of 241 trained responders and over 1,000 health workers sensitized on Ebola preparedness. However, he acknowledged that current supplies of testing kits and protective equipment remain limited, highlighting the need for additional funding and support to strengthen the country's response capabilities
Appearing before Parliament, Duale outlined a series of interventions undertaken by the Ministry of Health to strengthen Kenya's readiness in the event of an Ebola outbreak. He revealed that 29 counties have already identified isolation and treatment centres, while national facilities such as Kenyatta National Hospital and the National Police Service Hospital have set aside specialised beds and infrastructure for emergency response.
The clarification comes amid intense public debate and protests over reports of a planned Ebola quarantine facility in Laikipia linked to cooperation between Kenya and the United States. Critics have questioned whether Kenya is being positioned as a destination for foreign Ebola patients, concerns that have fuelled political opposition and legal challenges.
Duale dismissed these claims, stating that the facilities are part of Kenya's national public health preparedness framework and are designed to protect everyone within the country's borders. He emphasized that the measures are aimed at enhancing surveillance, isolation, treatment, and emergency response capacity for any future outbreak.
According to the CS, Kenya has a standby workforce of 241 trained responders and over 1,000 health workers sensitized on Ebola preparedness. However, he acknowledged that current supplies of testing kits and protective equipment remain limited, highlighting the need for additional funding and support to strengthen the country's response capabilities
