Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Tuesday, September 16, unveiled a modernized polio testing and research facility at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).
In a statement, the CS described the move as a major boost to the fight against infectious diseases, adding that it has cemented the country’s compliance with International Health Regulations (IHR).
"Officially unveiled the expanded state-of-the-art Polio Laboratory at KEMRI's Centre for Virus Research, a milestone in strengthening Kenya's compliance with International Health Regulations (IHR) and advancing global health security," the statement read.
Duale added that the newly expanded facility will play a key role in both national and regional disease monitoring.
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"Serving as both the National and Inter-country Reference Laboratory, the facility will support Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea and Comoros in polio diagnostics, surveillance, and genomic sequencing, cutting turnaround times and boosting outbreak preparedness," the statement added.
Duale further noted that the project was made possible through global partnerships, including with the World Health Organization (WHO).
"Developed with WHO, Gates Foundation, eHealth Africa and other partners, the lab is a remarkable step towards polio eradication and will also function as a multi-pathogen genomic platform already sequencing Mpox, measles, rubella and enteric viruses," the statement further read.
The launch comes two weeks after the National Police Service Referral Hospital (NPSRH) was officially opened in an event presided over by Acting Kenyatta National Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Richard Lesiyampe.
In an update on Monday, September 1, KNH said the 200-bed facility is now operational, with services dedicated to members of the National Police Service (NPS) and their families.
A team of 130 staff have been deployed to run the new facility, under the leadership of KNH Acting Director Raheli Mukhwana alongside Ronald Opili from the National Police Service.
Lesiyampe became the first registered patient under the hospital’s fully paperless system, making NPSRH a pioneer in automation within the public healthcare sector.
He urged staff to maximize available resources, work as a team, and uphold compassion in service delivery.
Lesiyampe expressed confidence that the hospital will set a new benchmark for innovation and efficiency in the public healthcare system.
"Lesiyampe called on staff to maximize available resources, embrace teamwork, and keep compassion at the center of care. He expressed confidence that NPSRH will set a new benchmark for innovation and automation in public healthcare," KNH said in its statement.
