Garissa County Teaching and Referral Hospital has reaffirmed its readiness to respond to potential Ebola outbreaks, showcasing its isolation and emergency response infrastructure despite having no confirmed or suspected cases of the disease.
Deputy CEO Hussein Bashey said the facility has evolved from its original role as a tuberculosis (TB) isolation center into a hub for managing a range of communicable diseases.
“When the Ministry of Health decentralized TB services to lower-level health facilities, we did not close our doors,” Bashey said. “Instead, we repurposed the facility to manage other communicable diseases, including measles, cholera, and other infectious conditions.”
The hospital’s isolation facility played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic, treating and isolating approximately 4,500 patients in 2020. Bashey noted that the facility continues to serve as a key component of the county’s disease surveillance and response system.
In addition to the isolation center, the regional referral hospital hosts a Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC), which has remained operational for the past five years. According to Bashey, the center continues to monitor and coordinate responses to communicable diseases, including tuberculosis and measles, while remaining alert to emerging public health threats.
“We are preparing for any public health emergency that may arise,” he said. “Currently, Ebola is the disease of concern. We have already put in place measures to ensure that any confirmed cases can be isolated immediately.”
During a preparedness demonstration, hospital officials showcased various sections of the facility, including isolation wards, quarantine areas, a holding ground for suspected cases, and a designated “green zone” where healthcare workers coordinate operations safely.
Bashey emphasized that the exercise was intended to demonstrate the county’s level of preparedness and reassure residents that response mechanisms are in place should an outbreak occur.
The hospital has trained and deployed a dedicated response team comprising five clinical officers, 10 nurses, two medical officers, and a physician who remains on standby to review cases if needed.
He also confirmed that the facility has adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and essential medical supplies to support emergency response efforts. The isolation unit has a capacity of 20 beds for managing confirmed cases.
Health authorities continue to monitor disease trends in the region and maintain readiness to respond swiftly should any Ebola cases be reported in Garissa County.
