Kenya has gone three consecutive weeks without recording a new confirmed case of Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Disease as health officials work to contain the imported outbreak.
Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said the government was working with the World Health Organization (WHO) to sustain the progress and strengthen the country’s preparedness against the disease.
Muthoni made the remarks after joining Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and other senior Ministry of Health officials in a meeting with WHO Regional Director for Africa, Professor Yakub Janabi.
The meeting reviewed the country’s response to the outbreak and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation on health security.
In the course of the meeting, the Ministry thanked WHO for its contributions, which saw the provision of 12 portable PCR test machines and a 28-bed Ebola treatment unit.
These two will enhance the capacity of Kenya in testing and dealing with suspect and confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease.
Kenya has reached almost the last stage of 42 days needed to pronounce the Ebola outbreak as over, as long as there are no new cases within the duration.
According to Muthoni, the government will keep monitoring and coordinating activities as the countdown goes on.
This discussion also covered other areas of cooperation in health services such as universal health coverage and local manufacture of medical supplies.