The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
Kenya has trained 2,200 health workers to strengthen its readiness in the event of an Ebola outbreak, Principal Secretary for Medical Services Ouma Oluga has said.
Oluga noted that the government has stepped up screening, training, and case management measures to prevent the virus from entering the country.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel
He explained that Kenya has continuously built its Ebola response capacity over the years, especially during outbreaks in neighbouring countries, where medical personnel are regularly trained and updated.
“Health workers need to be properly trained and properly prepared… overall, we’ve trained around 2,200 health workers,” he said, adding that about 800 were trained in the most recent preparedness efforts.
He also recalled being part of a group of Kenyan doctors trained at the Rwanda–DRC border during the 2013 Ebola outbreak, underscoring long-term preparedness efforts.
Oluga urged heightened vigilance for travellers arriving from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo within 21 days, calling on citizens to help report suspected cases early.
He encouraged the public to stay alert and use the Ebola hotline 719 when reporting concerns.
He said Kenya has strengthened surveillance at all 26 points of entry, improved contact tracing, and expanded isolation and screening facilities to manage potential cases.
Health facilities, he added, must ensure strict isolation protocols, proper protective equipment for staff, and specialised units for infectious diseases.
Oluga also called on healthcare workers to remain committed, describing them as the country’s first line of defence during outbreaks.
While acknowledging concerns about safety gear, he said efforts are ongoing to ensure adequate protective equipment such as gloves, masks, and hazmat suits.
He added that although vaccines exist for some Ebola strains, the current strain remains challenging due to the lack of a fully effective vaccine.
Oluga emphasized the need for continued public awareness, training, and coordinated preparedness among all stakeholders to prevent any outbreak in Kenya.
