The country to receive kit to detect new Covid-19 strains from UK
The country is set to receive kit to detect and pick new Covid-19 variants from the United Kingdom government.
The two countries’ Health Patnership will be boosted by UK’s New Variant Assessment Platform Programme.
In a statement, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, said that the Platform will allow the UK’s unique sequencing and variant assessment capabilities to support Kenya’s response to Covid-19.
“Through Kemri and Oxford University, we have a 30-year health partnership, which continues to grow from strength to strength, as we continuously expand our scope
of co-operation in the health sector,” he said
British High Commissioner to Kenya, Jane Marriott said the health partnership with Kenya is more than 30 years old and that through the Covid-19 pandemic, the relationship has been incredibly strong.
“Kenyan and British scientists at KEMRI and Oxford University were closely involved in the development of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Now we will share our expertise to work together in identifying, tracking and responding to new variants with Kenya, saving lives here and around the world,” she said.
The support includes reagents and equipment to increase in-country sequencing, technical advice, bioinformatics support, and training.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been undergoing mutations, leading to more variants of concern, with the country struggling with the impact of the Delta variant that has seen a surge in cases especially in Western and Nyanza regions.
This calls for constant monitoring to the changes in the virus and assessing any impact that they may have on severity, diagnostics and vaccine efficacy.
The partnership builds on the Health Partnership signed by Foreign Secretary, Commonwealth and Development Office, Dominic Raab and Kagwe, during the former’s visit to the country in January.
Through the partnership, the UK has long supported Kenya in providing supplies and supporting health systems in areas of family planning, nutrition, maternal and newborn health.
