The United States government has announced fresh funding worth Ksh2.5 billion, which is about $20 million, to help Kenya and its neighbours prepare better against the threat of Ebola. The money will also benefit Burundi, Rwanda, and South Sudan, as worries continue to grow about the disease spreading across the East African region.
According to the US State Department, this money is not just going to sit somewhere doing nothing. It will be used to set up and run emergency operations centres, improve how diseases are tracked and detected, carry out laboratory testing, and also strengthen border screening so that the virus does not sneak in through entry points. On top of that, the funds will go towards buying important medical supplies and putting in place strong measures to prevent and control infections.
Many Kenyans will remember the heated debate that happened not too long ago when there were plans to build an Ebola treatment facility in Laikipia. That idea caused a lot of noise from residents and concerned groups, and the matter even ended up in court. The High Court eventually stepped in and stopped those plans, so the facility was never built.
This new announcement comes as an addition to money that was already promised earlier. The US had previously said that Kenya would receive Ksh1.75 billion for Ebola preparedness, meaning the country is now getting even more support on top of what was already committed.
With Ebola still a serious concern in parts of central and eastern Africa, health experts say this kind of financial support from outside partners is very important for countries that may not have enough resources to handle an outbreak on their own.
0 Comments