Covid-19: Medical supplies land in Kenya from China

By Samuel Ouma

A batch of medical supplies from China on Friday, April 17 landed at Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

The consignment was received by the country’s Health, Interior and Transport Ministers.  The medical supplies were flown by Kenya Airways Dreamliner and will boost Kenya’s effort to curb spread of the coronavirus.

“We have come to witness and confirm the arrival of this 787 which has been carrying medical supplies from China. I would like to say that Kenya Airways is ready in terms of any evacuations required to make sure that we provide that facilitation,” reiterated the Transport Minister James Macharia.

The batch contained 500,000 three-ply masks; 200,000 testing and sampling tubes which are key to Kenya’s ability to mass-test the public; 4,000 shoe covers which will be used by frontline health workers; 300 static shoes (used in theatres); 76,000 – N95 masks and face Visors.

The Interior Minister Dr. Fred Matiang’i said the government is committed in fighting the contagious disease using all possible means.

“Our plan with the county Government is working; County Governments working with County Commissioners have been asked to put aside isolation centres in the event that we need them. I now can confirm that we have been advised by our colleagues in the Ministry of Trade that we will have enough face masks in the country,” he said.

On his part, Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe commended Kenya Airways for their role in the anti-coronavirus fight.

” We are glad to see that the corporation across all Government agencies is what is going to help us in winning this war against this deadly pandemic. We are really grateful that Kenya Airways has been able come on board and assist us to the extent that they have. We have developed protocols with them on how to travel and quarantine ourselves as crew so we are happy about what is happening,” noted Kagwe.

This comes barely a month after the East African nation received 100, 000 masks, 20,000 test kits and 1,000 protective equipment from the Chinese billionaire Jack Ma.