As COVID-19 bites hard into Kenya’s economic fabric, the government has been working hard towards combating the virus by coming through preventive measures. Due to the upward trajectory of infections, the government has been putting a huge chunk of its resources toward purchasing testing Kits, so that the virus is picked at an early stage before its spreads.
The Ministry of Health announced that it will soon start mass testing, but it will be done selectively in COVID-19 hotspots. Those who are will test positive for the virus will be immediately taken to a quarantine centre. But what happens when you cannot wait for the government to test you for COVID-19 when you start exhibiting COVID-19 like symptoms?
Following intense training and collaboration by the Centre of Disease Control (CDC) and approval by the Ministry of Health, after validation by the National Influenza Center (NIC) Laboratory, the Nairobi Hospital can now offer testing for COVID-19 at a fee of Ksh 10,000.
According to Dr Allan Pamba, who is the CEO, the testing facility in its main branch has the ability to capacity to process 80 tests per day, but will soon increase to 900 tests per day, as soon as they acquire automated equipment for testing and the results will be out in six to twenty-four hours.
“To be tested clients will need to be triaged at the Accident and Emergency Centre and seen by a doctor who will prescribe testing after taking their history. Clients will be allowed to go home after sampling and results will be emailed to them. For positive results, the patient will be informed of their status by their doctor and followed up by the Ministry of Health for isolation at a facility of their choice,” he said.
Three of its satellite clinics in Galleria Mall, Warwick Centre and Capital Centre have been reopened due to public demand to continue serving Kenyans in this time of the pandemic.
