KENYA – The Republic of Kenya has landed a major deal to host the World Bank-funded infectious disease unit (IDU) that will contribute to the Government’s ongoing efforts to increase its capacity to respond to future pandemics.
Kenyan-based newspaper Business Daily Africa announced that Kenyatta University has become the new hub of multibillion shillings health investments after it was picked to host the first World Bank-funded regional infectious disease unit in East Africa.
All eyes on Kenya as the country’s bid to host the first World Bank-funded regional infectious disease unit in East Africa was selected after the World Health Organisation revealed plans to build Africa’s first health emergency hub on a parcel of land on the institution.
The World Health Organization plans to set up an emergency response hub in Nairobi, Kenya from where the multinational body will coordinate emergency response needs for the Eastern Africa region and organize the delivery of life-saving medical supplies to where they are needed most.
Africa faces more than 100 health emergencies a year, ranging from disease outbreaks to natural and man-made disasters.
The business newspaper said on its website that the World Bank-funded infectious disease unit will be located at Kenyatta University and the unit will be run by the Kenyatta National Hospital.
Tender documents seen by the Business Daily show that the Kenyan Government has already secured the land for construction of the unit and is consequently seeking for consultants to help kickstart the process of setting up the facility, the business newspaper said on its website.
The World Bank Group plans to set up the regional infectious disease unit in Kenya at a time when the country is facing a growing burden of infectious diseases including the ongoing COVID-19, cholera and Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and remains at risk of disease outbreaks such as Ebola.
The Business Daily explained that Kenya as a major African trade and travel hub with open and porous borders, the country is vulnerable to infectious diseases of public health importance hence the need for setting up the facility.
In addition, the World Bank-funded infectious disease unit will strengthen Kenya’s capacity for preparedness and response to handle public health emergencies following the dramatic negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country and beyond its borders.
The Ministry of Health in Kenya said in a concept note outlining the basis of building the IDU that it is projected that highly infectious and life-threatening diseases will become more frequent due to climate and environmental changes.
The Health Ministry explained that there is a need to set up a national infectious disease unit as a centralized model for the management of highly infectious diseases for Kenya to remain vigilant to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
The ministry further said that patients with highly infectious diseases need effective medical care in a secure high-level isolation unit to prevent the spread and provide quality treatment, noting that the IDU is set to build the profile of Kenyatta University as Kenya’s next health hub.
Furthermore, the World Health Organization’s emergency response hub in Kenya will focused on ensuring affected populations can access essential health services, treating sick children with severe malnutrition along with preventing, detecting and responding to infectious disease outbreaks.
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