This archive report was first published on 22 June 2020.
On June 22, 2020, the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency made a significant donation to the fight against COVID-19 in Kenya. The agency handed over a testing kit with the capability of analyzing samples submitted for coronavirus screening within an hour and a half.
The Product Quantity and Routing (PQR) analyzer will be stationed at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and will support ongoing efforts to upscale COVID-19 screening. This donation comes at a critical time, as Kenya recorded 260 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, the largest number of infections on a single day since March.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter explained that the machine has undergone rigorous certification and will be used for various health applications, including cancer treatment. He handed over the kit to Health Chief Administrative Secretary Mercy Mwangangi, who expressed her appreciation for the donation.
"It is a machine that we will use basically for any testing when it comes to RNA and DNA testing. Indeed it is a worthwhile resource that we appreciate," Mwangangi said.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe noted that the new cases were confirmed from 3,651 samples tested since Saturday. He also emphasized that the coronavirus will be with us for a long time and will eventually stretch the medical system, even in the wealthiest of nations.
