Kenya has been lauded for its proactive role in curbing the spread of COVID-19.
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that Kenya has done well in putting measures aimed at curbing the spread of this virus.
He spoke as the United Nations COVID-19 Health Facility at the Nairobi Hospital was inaugurated at a time when the number of positive cases are increasing by the day.
Guterres stated that this is a time when the world should come together for the common good adding that vaccines already developed and other COVID-19 treatment methods should be embraced for the sake of public good.
“I thank President Kenyatta for being on the frontline in this effort and offering a gracious contribution so that UN personnel and partners can stay and deliver with the assurance of receiving advanced care should they fall seriously ill,” he said.
The new COVID-19 centre at the Nairobi Hospital has 100-bed facility, with 15 ICU beds, 45 HDU beds and 40 ward beds.
It will treat UN personnel and her partners who may test positive for COVID-19. Its aim is to lessen the burden for Kenyan citizens who may require health services in Kenyan hospitals.
“It will Augment the availability in Kenya of ventilators and other specialised equipment for COVID-19 intensive care,” he added.
The new facility was built at a cost of Ksh846 million.
It was inaugurated as 1,470 new COVID-19 cases were recorded on Friday raising the country’s tally to 68,193.
A total of 8,072 samples were tested bringing the total number of samples tested so far to 774,982.
Of the positive cases, 1,397 were Kenyans while 73 were foreigners. The youngest was a two-month-old infant while the oldest was 88 years.
Another 791 patients made full recovery which brings the total recoveries to 44,872.
Sadly, 25 patients succumbed to the disease bringing the total number of deaths to 1,228.
Hitherto, 1,364 patients are admitted in various hospitals across the country while 5,726 are on home-based isolation.
Some 54 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 16 of whom are on ventilatory support, and 32 on supplemental oxygen out of whom 73 are in general wards and 20 are in the High Dependency Unit (HDU).
