On 5 May 2020, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) was selected to serve as the centre of excellence for evaluation of Covid-19 diagnostics in Africa.
KEMRI, established in 1979, will conduct the evaluation and validation of SARS-COV-2 diagnostics, as well as facilitate capacity building on laboratory diagnostics of Covid-19 in Africa.
With over 40,000 Covid-19 cases, at least 17,000 Covid-19 related deaths, and over 14,000 recoveries since the first case was reported in Egypt on 14 th February 2020, Africa has been working to contain the virus.
Private sector and international support have sped up the production of Covid-19 testing kits, with the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Arica CDC) launching the Partnership to Accelerate COVID-19 Testing (PACT) initiative to test over 10 million in the next four months.
Targeted mass testing in high-risk areas such as Kawangware, Eastleigh, and Mvita in Mombasa County has been launched to identify and isolate the infected and prevent further transmission.
Chief Administrative Secretary Dr Rashid Aman appealed to Kenyans to willingly come forward and be tested, saying, 'We are appealing to Kenyans in targeted areas such as Kawangware to come forward to be tested if we have to flatten the curve.'
