Lilian Nyiva
NAIROBI, Kenya – Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has outlined a series of measures the government is implementing to prevent and respond to any possible Ebola outbreak in Kenya, amid growing concerns over the spread of the disease in parts of East and Central Africa.
Duale assured Kenyans that the country has not recorded any confirmed Ebola case and that the Ministry of Health has intensified surveillance and preparedness efforts across the country.
Enhanced Screening at Points of Entry
According to the Health CS, the government has strengthened Ebola surveillance and screening at all 26 official entry points into Kenya. The measures include increased monitoring of travelers arriving from countries affected by the outbreak, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
Duale said health personnel have been deployed to key border crossings and airports to ensure early detection of any suspected cases.
Border Holding Centres and Mobile Laboratories
As part of the new strategy, the government has established temporary holding centres at strategic border points to isolate and assess suspected Ebola cases before further action is taken. Mobile laboratories have also been deployed along the Kenya-Uganda and Kenya-South Sudan borders to facilitate rapid testing. The CS noted that the facilities are intended to strengthen Kenya's first line of defence against cross-border disease transmission.
National Preparedness Drill Planned
The Ministry of Health is scheduled to conduct a four-day national Ebola preparedness exercise from June 15 to June 18. The drill will test coordination systems, referral mechanisms, laboratory capacity and emergency response protocols in the event of an outbreak.Duale said the exercise will involve key stakeholders in the health sector and help identify any gaps in the country's preparedness framework.
Rapid Response Teams on Standby
The government has also assembled a surge capacity team comprising 241 trained experts who can be deployed immediately should a suspected Ebola case be detected. The team includes epidemiologists, laboratory specialists and public health emergency responders.
The CS urged members of the public to report anyone displaying symptoms associated with Ebola, especially those who have recently travelled from affected countries.
Government Maintains Kenya Is Ebola-Free
The Health Ministry has reiterated that Kenya remains free of Ebola and that all reported alerts investigated so far have tested negative. The government has maintained that the preparedness measures are precautionary and aimed at ensuring the country can respond swiftly should a case be detected.
