KENYA – Kajiado County Government in Kenya has partnered with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to deliver critical intensive care unit (ICU) equipment and medical supplies worth US$199,000 to Kitengela Sub-County Hospital.

The handing over ceremony saw the participation of Kajiado County Government Deputy Governor Mr. Martin Mushosho, KOICA Kenya Country Director Mr. Jang Hee Im and UNOPS East and Southern Africa Representative Emma Akinyi.

The Kitengela Sub-County Hospital received critical ICU equipment and medical supplies including 2 ICU beds, 3 cardiac beds, 2 resuscitation machines, 3 ventilators and 5 patient monitors and other medical supplies aimed at improving healthcare delivery at the facility.

KOICA endeavors to combat poverty and support the sustainable socioeconomic growth of partner countries. By doing so, KOICA establishes and strengthens friendly ties with developing countries.

The donation of the medical equipment comes at a time when COVID-19 infection cases are surging again in the country hence increased capacity in ICU care will support the hospital in handling handle critical care cases that require access to ICU beds and equipment.

The newly acquired equipment will also help ease congestion at the facility’s maternity ward which serves 500 patients a day and carries out 70 deliveries in a day where cases of Preeclampsia were referred to the Kenyatta National Hospital as the facility did not have an intensive care unit.

In addition, the Kitengela Sub-County Hospital is in a better position to offer critical care services to its growing population, support COVID-19 response efforts amid the ongoing pandemic and the partnership with UNOPS and KOICA will facilitate future contributions to the Kenyan health sector.

The Kenyan government has allocated additional funds in the health budget to recruit medics in ICU as well as efforts to train more ICU specialists including health investments in specialized nurses and boosted oxygen capacity to serve various referral hospitals.

KOICA, Ghana partner on laboratory training for COVID-19 molecular testing

Meanwhile, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has partnered with the Ghana’s Ministry of Health to jointly organize a training programme on molecular detection of COVID-19 using the RADI PCR Kit for 27 laboratory scientists in the country.

Earlier, Ghana received medical devices from KOICA to support its fight against COVID-19 including four PCR machines, four RNA Extraction machines, various PPEs, WASH items and educational materials to the Public Health Reference Laboratories.

The training aims to boost the capacity of local public health reference and regional laboratory scientists to utilise the 63,000 RADI PCR Kits and vaccine deployment items earlier donated by KOICA through a US$748,000 grant arrangement with the health ministry.

The Ghanian laboratory scientists were trained by experts from KH Medical, the Korean manufacturer and supplier of the RADI diagnostic products, in line with the company’s mission to provide diagnostic solutions for low and middle-income countries.

Other experts during the training include Director of Allied Health Dr Ignatius Awinibuno, Research Fellow at Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research Dr Kofi Bonney, Senior Deputy Country Director for KOICA Ghana Mr Seungmin Oh and Mr Adam Hong, Chief Executive Officer of KH Medical.

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