More than 3,000 Nairobi residents turn out for mass testing

More than 3,000 Nairobi residents have so far turned out for the ongoing free Covid-19 mass testing.

The testing is being spearheaded by the Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS).

The 11-day free mass testing was launched on Wednesday last week has already seen 3,144 people tested in the past five days.

NMS Chief Health Officer Ouma Oluga said the turnout has been very impressive and that they are planning to scale up the tests to aim at more than 1,000 residents daily.

He stated that 703 people were tested in Eastleigh with another 427 tested in Dagoretti and Embakasi East.

On Friday in Embakasi East’s Utawala, some 1,002 residents were tested while 427 were tested in Embakasi West and on Sunday, a total of 585 residents were tested in Starehe Sub-County.

Dr Oluga said the testing is aimed at mapping out hotspots in Nairobi, where more effort in terms of public health measures is supposed to be directed to, as well as mopping out cases to stop community transmission by isolating positive cases.

He pointed out that initially, people were getting their results after 48 hours but now it is taking slightly more time because of the huge number of tests and the fact that other places in the country are also bringing their samples to Nairobi for testing.

Testing in Westlands is targeting people from Kangemi, Sodom, Bottom Line, Deep Sea City Park and City Park market.

Today (Tuesday), residents of Lang’ata and Kibera sub-counties will be tested at Undugu and Kamkunji grounds respectively.

On Friday, the testing will be in Kasarani Sub-County targeting communities around Santon and Hunters. Testing centres will be set up at Murema Primary School.