The government of Kenya on Tuesday launched the first ever emergency operation centre at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
The facility which is funded by the United Department of International Development is valued at sh35 million.
The Health Ministry has said that the public health emergency operations centre, which was handed over to the ministry by the World Health Organization (WHO), will be able to bring together medical health workers working from 64 different sites in the event of an emergency.
Health CS, Cleopa Mailu who was present said that the state of the art facility will be a great relief in responding to eventualities in real time.
“Through this facility, we will be able to coordinate emergencies as soon as they occur. It will also help to mobilise health workers and maximise resources,” said Mailu.
What is more, the centre comes with teleconferencing and computing facilities that will allow health workers to interact virtually hence linking the national and county governments in case of any emergency.
Kenya has become the 14th African country out of 47 to set up such an emergency operation centre.