The United States government has donated 210 Abbott Real Time test kits to health workers in Kenya.
This will enable testing for approximately 20,000 people.
The US also donated 2,000 N95 masks, 43,200 nitrile gloves, 1,080 pairs of shoe covers, and 3,600 disposable gowns for front line health care workers.
Funded by the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency, these donations are the latest examples of U.S. support to Kenya to combat COVID-19 and support Kenya’s health care infrastructure.
US Ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter said his office and the Ministry of Health will coordinate distribution to laboratories with the most urgent testing needs across the country.
“U.S. supported laboratories have performed over half of the COVID-19 tests in Kenya and we are proud to add to that support with an additional 210 test kits to be used where the need is greatest,” said Mr.McCarter, on the COVID-19 test kit donations to the Ministry of Health.
“Along with Sh7.9 million in PPE to five hospitals and over 3 million USA Marafiki facemasks now being distributed, the United States will continue to support Kenya’s fight against COVID-19 and get the critical equipment directly to those in need.” he added.
McCarter said the United States donates more than any other country to help Kenya’s health needs with Sh60 billion every year.
Just for the coronavirus, the United States has provided over Sh7 billion in equipment, testing, training, and research as well as supporting health, water and sanitation.
U.S. donations are tracked and inventoried closely to ensure they are used for those most in need.
Even with this, the doctors’ union has told Kenyans to expect the worst as a stalemate between them and the government remains unresolved.
Doctors and nurses have threatened to down tools on the 6th and 7th of next month should the government fail to agree to their demands which include among others a comprehensive medical cover.
The health workers, through their respective national unions are also demanding the release of salaries as well as absorption of contracted workers to permanent and pensionable terms.
The union wants additional doctors deployed to counties to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and want doctor lecturers put under a comprehensive medical cover including risk allowances in line of duty.
The Kenya National Union of Nurses has also separately threatened to down tools should the government turn down its demands.
The nurses are demanding Ksh 30,000 monthly risk allowance and be provided with adequate and standard personal protective equipment.
The nurses are also demanding that they be issued with a group life insurance cover as well as the employment of 7,000 additional workforce to help in the fight against COVID-19.
The 14-day strike notice was issued by the Kenya National Union of Nurses on November 23.
The doctors union issued their 21-day strike notice on November 15 which is expected to lapse on December 6 should the government fail to act, while clinicians issued their 14-days’ notice on November 22.