President William Ruto has reiterated Kenya’s role in supporting both regional and international health security in the wake of the Ebola cases in the neighbouring countries.
He has also appealed for more international solidarity and jointly coordinated measures to curb the spread of the disease.
President Ruto was addressing ambassadors, development partners, multilateral agencies, and other stakeholders at State House Nairobi and informed them that Kenya is still on high alert as a regional gateway, financial hub, and host to major international organizations.
Speaking further, the President informed that the Government has stepped up surveillance and screening at 26 Points of Entry with over 58, 000 passengers having already been screened. Besides this, all the suspected Ebola cases have so far tested negative.
Also, the President disclosed that 17 isolation centres have been earmarked nationwide to ramp up preparedness in case of a viral outbreak.
Based on the President, Kenya is collaborating with various development partners and response agencies on the frontline, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Interior, and the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority, among others, to enhance surveillance, emergency response, healthcare readiness, laboratory systems, and cross, border coordination.
“We agreed on the importance of cooperation and avoiding isolationism, recognising that public health threats do not respect borders and require coordinated regional and global action.” President Ruto stated
He expressed appreciation for the representatives of the United States, United Kingdom, European Union France Germany, China Japan India Qatar UAE, Saudi Arabia Ethiopia Turkey, the United Nations Office at Nairobi, and the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office for their support towards Kenya’s preparedness initiatives.
Ruto stated that since diseases don’t recognize borders, the world can’t afford to isolate itself. Cooperation among the region and on the global level is indispensable when it comes to managing disease outbreaks.
“Kenya will continue to act transparently, responsibly, and decisively to protect lives while contributing to regional and global health security.” Ruto remarked
In line with this, the President released that the Government will set up a National Response Committee led by the Prime Cabinet Secretary and the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs to upgrade the country’s response system.
The committee’s remit will be to coordinate a whole, of, government and whole, of, society response, enhance public awareness and preparedness, and mobilize technical and financial resources.
