KMPDU Alarmed Over Ebola Preparedness

The medics' union says it is alarmed that Kenya is not in a position to tackle the deadly virus if it breaks out in the country.

The position is contrary to that given by the ministry of health which says it is ready to deal with Ebola as well as marburg virus which has been reported in the neighbouring Uganda.

KMPDU Secretary General Dr Sultani Matendechero said in a news conference today that very few nurses have the basic knowledhe about Ebola and therefore they are not even capable of identifying it.

The Ebola outbreak has killed more than 4,500 people in West Africa since its outbreak.

'Lack of knowledge on Ebola often leads to misdiagnosis" Matendechero said.

"Such misdiagnosis may lead to the existence of Ebola in Kenya without its detection" He added.

Speaking at Chester House in Nairobi, the KMPDU official said that the 3 isolation units that exist are make shift and that less than 5% of nurses and doctors in Kenya know what a HAZMAT looks like.

By Anne Muchiri