MoH receives mobile lab from IGAD to ease healthcare access in rural areas

The Ministry of Health on Monday received a donation of a mobile laboratory to boost access to healthcare.

The mobile laboratory valued at Sh24 million was donated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in partnership with the European Union (EU-IGAD).

The mobile laboratory, mounted on an all-terrain lorry, promises revolutionary advancements in outbreak response and healthcare accessibility.

According to the Public Health PS Mary Muthoni, the mobile laboratory is poised to revolutionize healthcare delivery by extending services to areas with limited access to medical facilities.

It can conduct a wide range of diagnostic tests, including those vital for outbreak investigations and Universal Health Coverage initiatives.

Muthoni said the mobile laboratory is expected to mitigate disparities in healthcare provision between urban and rural areas.

The truck lab was handed over to the PS by Fatuma Adan of Health Mission Kenya and EU Deputy Head of Delegation Ondrej Simek.

Muthoni noted that attaining UHC requires investment in key areas which include enhancing laboratory services.

"Despite the progress made so far, significant disparities in health service especially laboratory access between urban and rural areas continue to exist," Muthoni said.

"This uneven distribution resulted in widespread and persistent issues of lack or misdiagnosis in rural Kenya." 

According to the PS, mobile lab teams played a pivotal role during the Covid-19 pandemic, conducting over 20 per cent of the over three million tests in Kenya.

This, she said, underscores the critical importance of bringing diagnostic services closer to remote areas, not only during outbreaks but also to conduct routine diagnosis.

Muthoni has acknowledged the support EU-IGAD has rendered to the country, particularly during challenging periods like the Covid-19 pandemic.

IGAD has been a steadfast ally, in areas such as the country's workforce development to providing essential equipment, reagents and training.

IGAD has also been supportive in strengthening the pandemic preparedness project funded by the World Bank as well as in providing technical assistance to Kenya's National Public Health Institute (NPHI).

"As we navigate the challenges posed by climate change, it becomes increasingly imperative to strengthen our outbreak and pandemic preparedness efforts," Muthoni said.

"This necessitates multi-sectoral approaches with robust zoonosis and One Health components at their core."

The PS said the fully functional mobile laboratory donated on Monday will serve as a crucial asset in the country's efforts to expand healthcare services to hard-to-reach areas.

This is now an addition to two mobile labs already procured through the East African Community mobile lab project, enhancing the efficiency of the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and NPHI in responding to public health events swiftly and effectively.