NMS asks city residents to go for Covid-19 tests this weekend

Nairobi residents have been urged to attend a two-day testing for Covid-19 this weekend. 

The Nairobi Metropolitan Services appealed for large turnouts in all the 17 sub-counties.

Nairobi has since the first Covid-19 case was reported on March 13 been the epicentre of the pandemic in the country. It became a Covid-19 hotspot after the first mass testing in May.

As of Tuesday, Kenya had a total of 41,937 positive cases, 787 deaths and 31,340 recoveries. Cumulatively, the city, which accounts for over 50 per cent of all recorded Covid-19 cases in the country, had 21,597 cases and 407 deaths. 

NMS Health director Josephine Kibaru-Mbae on Wednesday said they will test as many people as possible after a sustained community mobilisation by health workers and community health volunteers.

“The community health volunteers will give health messages and encourage community members to present themselves voluntarily for testing,” she said.

In Kasarani subcounty, the testing will be at Kasarani health centre. In Embakasi, the tests will be conducted at Dandora One health centre in Embakasi North, Umoja One health centre in Embakasi West, Nairobi Pentecostal Glory Church in Embakasi East, Mukuru health centre in Embakasi South and Kayole 2 health centre in Embakasi central.

Testing in Dagoretti North will be at the Muslim chief’s office and Kilimani Primary School.

In Starehe, the public will be tested at Nairobi South health centre, Mathare North health centre and Huruma Lions health centre.

Makadara subcounty Nairobians will be tested at the Star Hope Primary School and Rabai Road Primary School.

The testing venues in Lang'ata subcounty will be Ngei Primary School and Kibra DO's office.

Testing in Kamukunji will be at Zawadi Primary School and Eastleigh health centre.

Other venues will be in Ruaraka and Westlands at High Ridge Primary School and Kihumbuini grounds, and Mutuini Hospital  in Dagoretti South subcounty.

In Roysambu, the tests will be at Githurai Primary School.

All the samples will be processed at the Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital laboratory.

The NMS said Nairobi, with a population of nearly five million, accounts for almost 10 per cent of the country’s population, hence the need for continuous testing.

Dr Mbae said that random testing of a large population will give an indication of how widespread the virus infection is in Nairobi. This will be done by calculating the positivity rate especially after easing the containment measures.

“The results will assist to track the state of the pandemic and the information will guide decision-making.

"A higher positivity rate suggests higher community transmission. It will show that there are likely more people with coronavirus in the community who haven’t been tested,” she explained.

By testing many people, the NMS will ensure the positive cases are  isolated to reduce transmission to family and the community at large.

"The positivity rate so calculated will also compare with the World Health Organisation recommended positivity rate of five per cent threshold for easing restrictions,” the Health executive said.

- mwaniki fm