This archive report was first published on 26 June 2020.
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has taken a crucial step in bolstering the fight against the virus by approving and releasing five new standards for the manufacturing of critical safety equipment.
Published on June 26, 2020, the new standards include specifications for sanitization booths, face shields, and nebuliser machines, which are essential in providing respiratory assistance to patients during emergencies.
According to Bernard Njiraini, Managing Director of KEBS, the new standards will guide local manufacturers in rapidly producing and supplying safe products for local use. "Sanitization booths are part of safety equipment used in public places such as hospitals, supermarkets, and open marketplaces to stem the spread of the COVID-19," he said.
The approved standards will ensure that face shields, which complement the use of facemasks, goggles, hoods, and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), meet the required safety and performance standards.
KEBS has also ramped up market surveillance activities to ensure consumers receive quality PPEs and other related products in the war against COVID-19.
