Isolation and quarantine centers in Nairobi named

The government has released a list of isolation and quarantine facilities within Nairobi County where patients can seek help as it implements a raft of measures in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The Ministry of Health said the 16 facilities in the city will charge a minimum of Sh2,000 a day in some of the isolation centres and as much as Sh5,200 in others. Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council CEO Dr Daniel Yumbya said the facilities have been identified for use. 

Among them is St George’s Girls High School in Nairobi, which has 2,070 rooms and will cost an individual Sh2,000 a day. Others are Nairobi School, Kenya Institute of Special Education, Kenya Education Management Institute and The Kenya High School.

Lenana School, Moi Forces Academy, Pangani Girls, Moi Girls High School and Kenyatta University will also offer similar facilities. Kenya Water Institute will offer facilities at Sh3,000 a day while the Kenya Institute of Special Education will charge Sh4,000.

The Cooperative University in Karen will charge Sh5,200 a day and has a capacity of 1,184 patients while JKUAT on Thika Road will charge Sh4,000 and has a capacity of 600.

Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) Director of Health Services Dr Josephine Mbae had last week said the county had earmarked public institutions, among them nine public schools, for use as treatment centres as part of its contingency Covid-19 preparedness plan.

“We still want people to quarantine at their comfort zone but we urge people to be frank with us; if you cannot manage at home, tell us,” Mbae said.

She also said NMS was in the process of increasing capacity at Mbagathi and Mama Lucy Kibaki hospitals in order to have additional beds in the wards and Intensive Care Unit.

President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the Health ministry to develop a protocol to retain retired ICU staff and physicians to deal with Covid-19 cases in the counties. Those who are unable to self-isolate would be held at different centres.

NMS has set aside KMTC and the Mary Griffin Hostel, which has 90 beds.

NMS is also in the process of putting up a makeshift facility at Mbagathi Hospital in collaboration with University of Nairobi Enterprises and Services, which will have 160 beds and will be ready by next week.