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NAIROBI, 29TH MARCH 2020: The Government of Kenya On Sunday announced that the World Bank has donated 250 ventilators to boost the country’s preparedness in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak.
Speaking to the press in Nairobi during the daily media briefing, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said that the donation from World Bank will augment the already available capacity in the country. He also indicated that the government was importing more ventilators from various parts of the world without divulging the quantities and source destinations.
With fears that the cases which are now at 42 may rise to overwhelm the health care system in Kenya, the government has announced a partnership with the private sector to help in the production of personal protective equipment, both for use locally and for export to other regional countries also dealing with the pandemic. Production is expected to begin in a week.
We must start building our local capacity. We are now at a place where we believe we can start manufacturing personal protective gear from next week. World Bank has donated 250 ventilators. We are getting 1000 ICU beds in addition to what exists currently .
– CS Kagwe
Local governments (counties) have also been advised to identify boarding schools which may be used as isolation centers in the regions should the country experience an influx in infections beyond what can be handled by existing hospitals.
The private sector has identified schools, air freight hangars that can be used as hospitals or isolation facilities when the need arises. No country on earth has contained this disease in just their existing health facilities alone.
– CS Kagwe
The government has also confirmed that it has plans to hire more health workers should the situation demand. Without committing to how many additional health workers the country may need in the coming days, the CS assured the country that there are enough skilled personnel waiting for an employment opportunity and will be brought on board as the situation dictates.
