Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr Ouma OlugaKenya has trained 2,200 health workers to strengthen the country's preparedness against Ebola outbreaks, Principal Secretary for Medical Services Ouma Oluga has said.
Oluga said the government has intensified screening, training and case management measures to prevent the disease from crossing into Kenya.
He noted that Kenya has been building its Ebola response capacity for years, with medical personnel receiving specialised training whenever outbreaks occur in neighbouring countries.
"Health workers need to be properly trained and properly prepared. So far, in just this specific incident, we've trained around 800. But overall, we've trained around 2,200 health workers. We have had Ebola scares for quite some time. Uganda has had its ninth outbreak. Every time there is an outbreak, Kenyan health workers are trained," he said.
Oluga revealed that he was among 90 Kenyan doctors who were trained at the Rwanda-DRC border during an Ebola outbreak in 2013, emphasising that the country has continuously invested in preparedness.
The PS said the government is maintaining a high index of suspicion for anyone who has travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or Uganda within the last 21 days.
"Every single citizen should help the country in its responsibility to protect itself," he said.
He urged Kenyans to be vigilant and report suspected cases, especially among people arriving from Ebola-affected regions.
According to Oluga, Ebola symptoms include headaches, fever, body weakness, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, bleeding from various parts of the body.
He disclosed that a recent Ebola scare involving a Turkish tourist turned out negative after health authorities moved swiftly to test the individual following a report by a private doctor.
"I think that high index of suspicion from the doctor and from the general public is good because it helps us to test that person," he said.
Oluga said members of the public can report concerns through the government's Ebola hotline, 719.
The PS also outlined the country's preparedness measures, including surveillance at all 26 points of entry, contact tracing, screening and the establishment of isolation facilities.
He explained that hospitals designated to handle Ebola cases must have dedicated isolation areas, adequate personal protective equipment (PPEs) for healthcare workers and specialised infectious disease units with controlled airflow systems.
"These people must be separated from other patients from the moment somebody thinks that this could be Ebola," he said.
Oluga added that facilities that are unable to manage Ebola cases are required to isolate patients before transferring them through specially equipped isolation ambulances.
He called on healthcare workers to remain calm and committed during disease outbreaks, describing them as the country's first line of defence.
"During an outbreak like this, we are the KDF. We are the defence of the country," he said.
While acknowledging concerns raised by healthcare workers over safety, Oluga said discussions should focus on ensuring frontline workers have adequate protective gear, including hazmat suits, gloves and N95 masks.
He noted that while vaccines and treatment exist for some Ebola strains, the current strain remains a challenge because it does not yet have a vaccine.
Oluga urged the country to prioritise public awareness and preparedness, saying citizens, health workers and government agencies all have a role to play in preventing a potential outbreak.
"I am almost begging the country that we go back to that conversation where we can start training people on what they need to do as citizens and what is important for all of us," he said.
