Kenya
Kenyan laboratories on the front line in the fight against coronavirus are stepping up their preparedness.
At the Kemri Medical Research Institute in the capital Nairobi, researchers are tracking the virus with a range of newer equipment.
They are preparing samples in machines capable of testing several thousand people in a day.
“The beauty of the equipment is that it is high through input equipment which is able to test up to 960 samples in an eight-hour shift”, William Otieno, Research Assistant Officer at Kemri Medical Research Institute said.
Faster and more secure machine detections have accelerated daily testing.
“So far here in western Kenya, we cover western Kenya and part of south Rift. We have tested almost nine hundred samples and al of those we have released results, we have tried working really hard on our turnaround time, we try our best to make sure that our turnaround time is within twenty-four hours”, said Layton o. Onyango, Deputy Director and Molecular Virologist.
Kenya, which recently launched a major anti-COVID-19 testing campaign, hopes to carry out nearly 250,000 tests by June.
AFP
00:28
Nairobi hawker shot at close range by police declared brain dead
00:48
Death toll in Kenyan anti-government protests rises to 16, says rights group
01:07
Kenya prepares for first anniversary of Finance Bill protests
01:52
UN's crucial humanitarian aid work faces a clouded future amid cuts in funds
02:00
Refugees in Kenyan camp face hunger after USAID funding freeze
01:00
Pix of the Day: June 19, 2025