Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki has called on the national government to establish Ebola screening centres at all major weighbridges along the Northern Corridor to strengthen the country's preparedness against the deadly disease.
Speaking during a free medical outreach programme in Jomvu organized by his office in partnership with Mount Kenya University, Senator Faki said Kenya must enhance surveillance measures along key transport routes used by long-distance truck drivers travelling between East Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where Ebola cases have been reported.
The Senator noted that while the government has put considerable emphasis on isolation and treatment facilities, equal attention should be directed towards early detection through screening centres.
"As a country, we must be more vigilant on the Northern Corridor. Thousands of truck drivers move between Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo every month. We should not wait until suspected cases reach our communities before taking action," said Faki.
"The government should establish Ebola screening centres at all major weighbridges and transit points. Prevention and early detection are just as important as isolation centres," he added.
Faki said weighbridges provide strategic locations for health screening because they serve as mandatory stopovers for cargo trucks travelling across the region.
"Instead of focusing only on isolation centres, we should invest in screening facilities where travellers and truck drivers can be monitored before they proceed with their journeys. This will strengthen our national preparedness and help protect Kenyans," he said.
The Senator's remarks come as Kenya continues to enhance surveillance measures at points of entry following the Ebola outbreak in parts of the DRC and Uganda.
The Ministry of Health has already intensified screening at border points and other entry routes as part of ongoing preparedness efforts.
The medical outreach in Jomvu attracted hundreds of residents who received free medical consultations, screening services, and health education.
Senator Faki commended Mount Kenya University and healthcare workers participating in the exercise, saying such initiatives help bridge healthcare access gaps for vulnerable communities.
"Health is a fundamental right. Through partnerships such as this one, we can bring essential medical services closer to our people and improve health outcomes across our communities," he said.
The outreach programme will continue until Sunday, offering a range of healthcare services to residents of Jomvu and surrounding areas.
