The true test of a health system is not how it responds to an outbreak, but how well it prepares before one occurs. With Ebola cases continuing to be reported in neighbouring countries, the Defence Forces Memorial Hospital (DFMH) is strengthening its readiness through specialised Filovirus Disease (Ebola) training for medical personnel, ensuring its frontline responders remain equipped to protect lives should the threat cross Kenya’s borders.
The training brought together healthcare professionals from across the KDF hospitals to strengthen their capacity to detect, prevent and respond to Filovirus Disease, including early recognition, infection prevention and control, laboratory specimen management, surveillance, contact tracing and coordinated outbreak response.
Speaking during the opening of the training, the Chief of Clinical Services at the Defence Forces Memorial Hospital, Brigadier (Dr) Ngundo, said the programme forms part of the Kenya Defence Forces’ broader preparedness strategy against Ebola Virus Disease. He noted that although Kenya has not recorded an outbreak, the country’s high-risk classification and the deployment of KDF personnel in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo underscore the need for sustained vigilance and operational readiness.
Brigadier (Dr) Ngundo reaffirmed the Directorate of Medical Services’ commitment to strengthening outbreak preparedness through continued capacity building, enhanced treatment infrastructure and the provision of critical response equipment. He urged participants to approach the training with professionalism, emphasising that the skills acquired would be vital in safeguarding KDF personnel, their families and the nation.
The programme also underscored the importance of ethical decision-making, effective risk communication and psychosocial support, recognising that effective outbreak response relies not only on clinical expertise but also on public trust, compassion and coordinated action.
As the regional health landscape continues to evolve, strengthening preparedness today is an investment in tomorrow’s resilience. Through initiatives such as this, the Defence Forces Memorial Hospital continues to build a mission-ready medical workforce capable of protecting the Force and supporting Kenya’s wider public health security whenever called upon.
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