“Open to partnership. Not open to breaking Kenyan law”
-Health Cs Aden Duale
Kenya says it is in discussions with the United States and other international partners to strengthen coordinated responses to Ebola and other emerging health threats, but has not confirmed plans for a U.S. quarantine facility on Kenyan soil.
In a statement released Wednesday, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the government remains committed to working with global partners to boost health security.
“Kenya welcomes partnerships that strengthen global health security and reaffirm our shared commitment to protecting lives through coordinated, science-based action,” the ministry stated.
The announcement comes after a New York Times report claimed the Trump administration was considering sending Americans exposed to Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Kenya for monitoring and treatment. Kenya’s Ministry of Health did not directly address that proposal in its release.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei told Reuters he was not fully briefed on the matter and had no knowledge of a formal request for additional support.
Kenya emphasised that its role in regional and global health security is the result of years of investment in public health systems, disease surveillance, workforce training, and emergency preparedness. Kenyan medical teams have previously assisted with outbreak responses in the region, including the West Africa Ebola epidemic from 2014 to 2016.
“The country continues to maintain and strengthen preparedness measures in response to the ongoing EVD outbreak in the region,” the ministry said.
As part of its current strategy, Kenya has activated its National Incident Management System. Screening at airports, border points, and other ports of entry has been stepped up, with specific laboratories designated for Ebola testing. Coordination between national and county governments has also been reinforced.
So far, authorities report that more than 55,000 travellers have been screened at entry points, and 10 suspected cases have been tested. All came back negative.
The government stressed that any international health cooperation will operate within Kenya’s legal and safety frameworks. “Any arrangements regarding international health cooperation will be guided by Kenya’s national laws, public health regulations, biosafety and biosecurity standards, and the overriding responsibility of the government to safeguard the health and welfare of the people of Kenya,” the statement said.
Protection of the public, frontline health workers, and local communities remains the top priority, it added. Kenya also highlighted its long-standing collaboration with the U.S. and other partners in building surveillance systems, training health workers, and improving emergency response capacity.
“Kenya values its longstanding partnership with the United States and other global partners in strengthening health systems and health security capacities,” the ministry said.
As talks continue, officials said Kenya’s approach will be guided by science, collaboration, and national interest. “As we continue to strengthen preparedness and resilience, our approach will remain guided by science, collaboration, national interest and the shared objective of protecting populations from emerging public health threats,” the statement concluded.
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