An Investigation into the Existing Capacity and Screening Procedures for Ebola at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi

Abstract

For about 12 months in the year 2014, the outbreak of Ebola disease in West Africa dominated the world health news. As a result, Kenya banned flights from Sierra Leone and Liberia as a precautionary measure in preventing the disease from entering its territory. From the beginning of the year 2014, Kenya was on high alert following the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. This study sought to investigate the existing capacity and screening procedures for Ebola at Jomo Kenyatta international airport, Nairobi. This study made use of a cross sectional study design. The target population was all the 130 health personnel working at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Primary data was collected by use of questionnaires and Key Informant Interview guides. The results indicate that 59.2% of the health personnel at Jomo Kenyatta international airport health department were public health officers, followed by nurses (22.5%) and clinical officers (12.2%). The study also found that Jomo Kenyatta international airport had a documented process for screening passengers for Ebola disease. The study also concludes that although the health department had most of the facilities and equipment necessary for Ebola disease screening some was lacking. The study found that the health department had PPEs necessary for screening passengers for Ebola disease. However, facilities and equipment like closed vacuum container, polymerase chain reaction, Quarantine room, Functional thermos scanners, well equipped Lab facilities, PCI laboratories were lacking. The study also established that the personnel in the health department were trained on the required skills for the screening of passengers for Ebola disease. The study concludes that the personnel available for screening passengers for Ebola disease at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport include public health officers, laboratory technicians, epidemiologists, clinical officers, nurses, doctors and support staff. The study also concludes that the health department in Jomo Kenyatta international airport had a document process for screening passengers for Ebola disease. The study also concludes that although the health department had most of the facilities and equipment necessary for Ebola disease screening, some were lacking.