Lodwar County Referral Hospital (LCRH) will have the capacity to process up to 280 Covid-19 samples and give results on a daily basis once the National Ministry of Health approves the testing to be conducted in Turkana, the County Health Executive (CEC), Jane Ajele, has said.
Speaking during a tour of the hospital to assess the Covid-19 testing infrastructure, Ajele said the County had already procured all the necessary Covid-19 testing equipment and materials.
She added that the laboratory will be at a vantage point to commence testing after its Laboratory staff completes the necessary training in the next one week.
While appealing to the Laboratory professionals to take the training with all the seriousness it deserves, CEC Ajele said that the lab will process samples collected within Turkana as well the neighbouring South Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda in Turkana West, North and Loima respectively.
The County Health boss said that she was satisfied with the works done by contractors in fixing the Covid-19 testing equipment at the County’s’ Molecular Laboratory.
“Once the Covid-19 testing starts in Turkana, the cost of sample shipment and associated delayed turnaround time will be a thing of the past,” said CEC Ajele.
Speaking during the visit, County Laboratory Coordinator, James Maragia, said that the procured equipment can still be utilized post Covid-19 to run other tests of public health importance.
The CEC was accompanied by the Deputy Director LCRH, Elizabeth Auru, LCRH lab Manager, Stephen Onyango and LCRH public Health Officer, Mary Ogutu.
By Peter Gitonga
