About 40 percent of Kenya’s 47 counties do not have diagnostic facilities that meet national standards for the timely detection and reporting of diseases, a new health sector report has revealed, raising concerns about the country's ability to respond quickly to public health threats.
A study by the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) and Global Solutions for Diagnostics and Laboratory Systems (GLOBESOLUTE) found that only 60 percent of counties have the required infrastructure and capacity to quickly identify and report potential pathogens to the relevant national authorities. The remaining counties lack the essential tools and systems required for an early warning system, prompt intervention, and effective outbreak containment.
