This archive report was first published on 24 June 2020.
Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) is ramping up its Covid-19 preparedness with the creation of a temporary 400-bed isolation centre for asymptomatic patients at Mbagathi Hospital.
The deadline for counties to have at least 300 isolation beds ready is fast approaching, with Nairobi being the worst hit county contributing close to half of the reported cases nationwide.
According to NMS Deputy Director-General Enosh Momanyi, the temporary isolation centre will be established through a government-to-government partnership with the University of Nairobi Enterprises and Services Limited.
"This will minimize costs, time duration and benefit from well-seasoned experts in the actualization of such projects," said Mr Momanyi.
Renovation works are ongoing at Mbagathi Hospital to create 78 more isolation beds and a 10-bed ICU and HDU to aid in treating critically-ill Covid-19 patients.
Early this month, NMS Director for Health Services Dr Josephine Kibaru-Mbae said they were renovating Blocks 1 and 2 at Mbagathi Hospital to be converted into isolation wards for 100 critically-ill patients.
As part of the preparations, NMS is targeting to recruit 225 health workers to add to the 2,750 health professionals under the county.
