Plans are in motion for the construction of the World Health Organization (WHO) regional operations & logistics center in Kenya. Recently President Uhuru Kenyatta led the celebration of the project’s groundbreaking ceremony. The ceremony was carried out at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral, and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) grounds in Kiambu County.
The government of Kenya has thus far allocated 30 acres of land near KUTRRH for the development of the project. It has also according to President Kenyatta made a $5 million commitment to operationalizing the hub to assist operations. Furthermore, the president stated that the government had also given WHO rent-free office space at the KUTRRH. This will accommodate the initial staff component of up to 150 officers required to begin planning for the hub’s development.
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Two other nations to host a facility similar to the proposed WHO regional operations & logistics center in Kenya
Kenya is one of three African nations WHO chose to host a regional operations & logistics center in Africa. The WHO regional operations & logistics center in Kenya will supply emergency medical professionals, supplies, and equipment to help countries in Eastern Africa countries experiencing emergencies.
The other two African nations chosen to host the WHO hubs, which will also be centers of excellence for emergency medical training and can handle over 100 crises simultaneously, are Senegal and Nigeria.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, President Kenyatta expressed his appreciation for the WHO’s decision to locate the emergency center in Kenya.
