Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has responded to criticism of Kenya’s Ebola preparedness and explained the country’s health cooperation agreements with the United States.
He assured the Parliament that all public health decisions are made by the Government of Kenya.
Duale told the National Assembly Health Committee that Kenya is liaising with neighboring countries, regional bodies and international health agencies to boost its preparedness for possible cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
He also noted that Ebola isn’t just a problem for any one country but rather one that poses a threat to the health security of the region and the world at large and That means require coordinated measures to be taken Ministry of Health is at present working with Uganda on sharing surveillance information, screening travellers, notifying cases, tracing contacts, laboratory referrals and preparedness rapid responses.
Besides that, Kenya is actively participating through such regional platforms as the East African Community (EAC) and cross, border disease surveillance mechanisms. The country has also had discussions with the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa CDC IGAD International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other development partners.
Duale stated that these collaborations are enabling the country to carry out activities in surveillance laboratories simulation exercises training risk communication, logistics, and resource mobilization.
The Cabinet Secretary refuted fears that international cooperation might lessen the sovereignty of Kenya. He argued that health interventions are carried out only within the systems authorized by Kenyan authorities and in line with Kenyan laws.
In response to the media reports that Kenya had signed an agreement with the United States to build quarantine facilities for foreign nationals, Duale has said that the partnership is just a bilateral agreement that has been going on for a while.
He informed the parliamentarians that Kenya and the United States entered into a cooperation agreement for the first time under the Threat Reduction Biological Engagement Program in July 2015 when the then US President made a state visit to Kenya.
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