Turkana hospital set to roll out Covid-19 testing

[File, Standard]

Lodwar County Referral Hospital (LCRC) is set to roll out Covid-19 testing after the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) donated a machine to the facility.

Governor Josphat Nanok received a GeneXpert machine from the UNCHR –Kakuma sub-office, which will be installed at LCRH.

UNCHR Head of Kakuma sub-office Kahin Ismail said the machine will be a big boost for the county’s response towards the pandemic, owing to its efficiency in delivering results in just 45 minutes.

Kahin said UNHCR had donated two GeneXpert machines- one for the LCRH and another to be installed at IRC hospital in Kakuma to serve refugee communities in Turkana West.

He said two other machines, for Covid-19 testing, had been installed at the Dadaab Refugee camp in Garissa County.

“These machines are very expensive to procure globally. We are proud to have four of them that will benefit locals and the refugee population,” Ismail said.

Nanok said there were four specialists with the expertise to handle the GeneXpert machines stationed at the county hospital.

UNHCR also handed over 400 testing kits and Personal Protective Equipment.