Over 3,000 Nairobi residents have voluntarily turned out for the ongoing Covid-19 mass testing in the city.
The 11-day free Covid-19 testing drive was launched on May 20th by the Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS).
In the first five days of the exercise, 3,144 people came out to be tested for the virus, according to NMS Chief Health Officer Ouma Oluga.
Ouma said the turnout is impressive and plans are underway to scale up their testing capacity targeting at least 1,000 samples daily. He said they have so far covered Eastleigh, Dagoretti, Embakasi East, Utawala, Embakasi West, and Starehe areas.
The mass testing is aimed at mapping out Covid-19 hotspots in Nairobi to help the government contain community transmission.
“We are concentrating on informal settlements because they are difficult to manage in terms of access to water, proper sanitation, physical distancing, and restrictions on movement as this is one of the best ways of preventing more transmissions,” said Oluga.
Other targeted areas include Kangemi, Sodom, Bottom Line, Deep Sea City Park, City Park market, Lang’ata, Kibera, Santon, and Hunters Githurai 44 and 45, Mathare 1, 2 and 3, and Huruma.
Others are Korogocho, Githogoro and Mji Wa Huruma, Bahati, Civil Servants, Makongeni, Jana Villa, Muthurwa, Shauri Moyo, Majengo, Jua Kali, Burma, and Gikomba.
dumb as it gets
dumb as it gets