Kenya has approved a U.S. plan to establish an Ebola quarantine facility in Laikipia County, with America committing Ksh1.7 billion to support the country’s Ebola preparedness efforts.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The latest development comes after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call with William Ruto on Thursday, May 28, to discuss the ongoing Ebola outbreak and coordination efforts between Kenya and the U.S.

According to a statement by the Office of the U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott, Rubio and Ruto discussed coordinated efforts to secure vital medical supplies for Kenya and strengthen the country’s health preparedness systems.

During the phone call, Marco Rubio announced the U.S. government’s commitment of approximately Ksh1.74 billion to support Ebola preparedness efforts in Kenya.

📌 What You Need to Know

Sources privy to the information indicate that Kenya has provided written approval allowing the U.S. access to land at an air force base in Laikipia to set up the quarantine facility.

The quarantine centre is expected to be operational within a week and will initially include a 50-bed field hospital, with room for future expansion to accommodate up to 250 beds if necessary.

The facility will reportedly be staffed by members of the U.S. Public Health Service, with personnel already undergoing training at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland ahead of deployment to Kenya.

The development comes amid growing concern over the escalating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has also spread into Uganda, raising fears of wider regional transmission.

“The facility is designed to provide access to high-quality care for Americans who would need to quickly get out of DRC and quarantine without the risks of a lengthy transport back to the U.S.,” a U.S. government official said.

Reports indicate the project is being coordinated jointly by the U.S. Departments of State, Defence, and Health and Human Services.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke