This archive report was first published on 11 June 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, counties in Kenya are racing to set up quarantine centres to accommodate infected individuals. However, the quality of these facilities has been questioned, with many lacking basic amenities such as water and proper sanitary facilities.
According to the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), the lack of proper infrastructure has led to protests from Kenyans in quarantine facilities, with some taking to social media to share pictures and videos of their living conditions.
AAK has since launched a document titled 'Planning Considerations for Setting up of Quarantine Facilities for Covid-19 in Kenya', aimed at providing quick and innovative infrastructure guidelines to public and private healthcare sector players.
AAK President Mugure Njendu emphasized the importance of engaging registered professionals in the design and supervision of quarantine centres, stating that 'it is advisable that registered professionals are engaged when it comes to putting up these centres.'
The document addresses various aspects of quarantine centre design, including space, sanitation, power source, lighting, communications, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. It also emphasizes the need for risk assessment to minimize the chances of reinfections.
Published on June 11, 2020, the document aims to provide a comprehensive guide for counties to follow when setting up quarantine centres.
