Nakuru:Nakuru County, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Amref Health Africa, has enhanced its readiness to manage potential Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) cases. This follows the completion of a weeklong training program and practical response simulation for frontline healthcare workers at Langalanga Sub-County Hospital, which is the proposed isolation center.
According to Kenya News Agency, the training targeted volunteer healthcare workers from all sub-counties, including personnel with experience from the COVID-19 response. The program aimed to bolster surveillance and ensure a timely response in the event of an outbreak. Emphasis was placed on refresher training, adequate PPE supplies, reliable ambulance arrangements, laboratory coordination, and clear referral protocols.
Dr. Elizabeth Kiptoo, the Acting Chief Officer for Public Health, highlighted the need for trained personnel, designated isolation areas, safe patient-transfer procedures, and the capacity to collect and transport specimens without exposing other patients or staff. The simulation tested the chain of actions required if a suspected case were referred to the hospital. However, specific details about the center’s operational status, bed capacity, staffing, or available isolation equipment were not disclosed.
The training program commenced with classroom sessions at Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital, covering EVD case management and infection prevention and control. Ministry of Health trainers guided participants through simulations involving PPE use, ambulance transportation, laboratory testing, and security procedures. The exercise also included a simulated recovery and discharge, followed by a feedback and debriefing session.
Kenya continues to manage the consequences of an imported Bundibugyo Ebola case reported in October. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale stated that the outbreak remained confined to a single cluster, with no new cases reported since October 19. The Ministry of Health reported eight confirmed cases linked to the index case, including four healthcare workers and four close family members.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the importance of appropriate PPE use and infection prevention procedures to reduce healthcare workers’ infection risk. WHO’s guidance recommends coordinated measures for outbreak control, including screening, isolation, PPE, and community engagement.
Nakuru’s designation of Langalanga Sub-County Hospital as a proposed isolation center adds a local facility to Kenya’s national preparedness framework. As the county continues to monitor Ebola cases, the recent exercise highlights the importance of preparing health teams before an emergency reaches their facilities. The sustainability of trained personnel, operational isolation arrangements, and coordinated referral systems will be crucial for Nakuru’s ongoing readiness.
