Govt acquires Sh16mn thermo scanners to screen for Ebola
Kenyan health officials take passengers temperature as they arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The government said it has procured eight thermo scanners which will be delivered in the next five days. PHOTO | FILE | AFP
What you need to know:
Currently, passengers from the three affected West African countries (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone) are the only ones that have been subjected to body temperature screening.
The government will start screening all passengers entering the country after it acquired Sh16million thermo scanners to help in the fight against Ebola. The ministry of health said it has procured eight thermo scanners which will be delivered in the next five days.
“We have been relying on hand held thermometers which are not sufficient to take temperatures of all travellers. The thermo scanners will help us examine every passengers coming through the Airport,” said James Macharia, Cabinet Secretary for Health.
Currently, passengers from the three affected West African countries (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone) are the only ones that have been subjected to body temperature screening.
Ebola has claimed over 4,000 lives since its outbreak in West Africa. The US and Europe have also recorded Ebola deaths with the latest being a German from a Sudanese UN health worker. The 56-year old man had arrived in Germany from Liberia for treatment.
Kenya is ranked among the 19 high risk Ebola countries by World Health Organisation (WHO). However, the minister for health says he expects the country to be given fair rankings after it banned flights from the three affected West African countries.
“Kenya was ranked high because it’s an international transit hub. This is the case with US, UAE and UK which have also been ranked in the list.
The walk–through thermo scanners were procured through Kenya Airports Authority since it was a matter of urgency. However, Mr Macharia says it will later be transferred to the ministry of health because it falls under its mandate. The thermo scanners were expected to arrive in the country earlier but experienced technical delay.
“We would have received it by now but since its sophisticated machine which is also used for military purposes, there was need to secure special documentation for shipment. We are glad the Belgian government through its embassy in Kenya were helpful,” added Mr Macharia. Each thermo scanners cost tax payers Sh2million.
The ministry of health was last month was granted Sh350million by National treasury for Ebola. This money is part of Sh680million approved by parliament. The balance is expected to be released soon.
Kenya has not recorded any Ebola case since the outbreak began.
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