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{
"id": 1006082,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1006082/?format=api",
"text_counter": 135,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Murang’a CWR, JP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Sabina Chege",
"speaker": {
"id": 884,
"legal_name": "Sabina Wanjiru Chege",
"slug": "sabina-wanjiru-chege"
},
"content": "test reagents has resulted in scarcity making it more difficult for the low-medium to secure these commodities even if the resources were available. It is, therefore, important for Kenya to choose its strategy of testing within its means in response to COVID-19. Based on the above reason, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has chosen the strategy of Expanded Targeting Testing (ETT). This strategy will expand testing beyond the current one of testing case alerts, hospital admissions, travelers, those in quarantine, and contacts. It will now cover testing at risk groups in emerging high risk regions in the country. This will inform timely and effective public health response to break transmission of the ongoing COVID- 19 pandemic. On the testing plan, laboratory testing for COVID-19 is critical to tracking the virus, understanding epidemiology, informing case management and breaking the chain of transmission. Currently, laboratory testing utilises molecular method based on PCR to detect COVID-19 Ribonucleic Acid (RNA). Testing resources are still limited to a few laboratories that run manual real time PCR and those within high-throughput platform that routinely support HIV reference laboratory testing. As at mid-April 2020, these existing laboratories capacity can test up to 2,000 sample cases daily if all the platforms are utilised and reagents are available. Networks of the testing laboratories have been developed with each assigned particular county that they support. This expanded network is harnessing the existing national laboratory specimen referral programme to ensure counties are covered. To save time, I will table on the Floor all the laboratories being used as testing labs in Kenya. The following target population have been prioritised for testing high risk/priority group, which include individuals meeting the MOH case definition, all contacts of confirmed cases at conclusion of quarantine period as per the MOH guidelines, health facilities conducting influenza like illness (ILI), namely, severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) surveillance in counties without evidence of ongoing transmission in order to provide information on the true geographical scope of COVID-19 transmissions in Kenya. All frontline health workers working as rapid response team in quarantine and testing laboratories, regardless of whether they are contact of a confirmed case, are undergoing testing. A frontline healthcare worker includes a healthcare professional, cleaners, personnel like clerks, admission receptionists, patients and transporters. All these are undergoing testing. All hotel institutions workers where COVID-19 returnees and high risk contacts were mandatorily quarantined have been tested. Truck drivers and crew crossing international boundaries and those seeking accommodation in areas with ongoing community transmission have been tested. Mass testing for both health and non-health staff working at airports, seaports, ground crossings and checkpoints is ongoing. In areas of confirmed transmissions, prioritised staff at supermarkets, PSV crews, market vendors, security personnel and any other individual within the vicinity are tested. Geographic areas and sub-population or institutions that have reported clustering of cases for example the port institutions and airlines are being tested. There is the health facility based testing where all patients requiring admission for severe respiratory disease or medical attention for influenza like illness at all the 47 counties referral hospitals and selected private and faith based hospitals are being tested. Persons with COVID-19 compatibility illness attending specialised clinic like HIV and those seeking treatment for diabetes, hypertension, renal, cardiac, cancer and TB are also going through testing. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}