Nairobi Kenya, 16 March 2012 -- The WHO Country Representative, Dr Abdoulie Jack handed over vehicles, a range of equipment and medicines to the Minister of Public Health and Sanitation, Hon Beth Mugo at an official handing over ceremony held at the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation Headquarters in Nairobi.

In attendance were the Permanent Secretary Mr Mark Bor, the Director of Public Health and Sanitation Dr S.K Sharif, Senior officials of the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation and members of the media.

The donations included 5 tonnes of emergency health kits, two 4x4 land cruiser ambulances, 2 Speed Radar Cameras and 5,000 Reflective Jackets for the Road Safety Kenya project.

In her remarks, the Minister expressed her delight on the success of the road safety project which she launched in March 2011. She noted that remarkable strides to improve road safety in Naivasha and Thika District had been achieved through this project. Hon. Mugo thanked WHO for supporting road safety in these two areas and called upon all road users to observe courtesy and caution while observing the traffic laws.

The WR, Dr Jack noted that Kenya has been facing repeated disasters and disease outbreaks, especially in the arid and semi-arid regions. Dr Jack reaffirmed WHO’s support to the Government of Kenya in improving the surge capacity to mount an effective and prompt response in the event of a natural, man-made disaster or disease outbreak. WHO was donating the Emergency Kits for prepositioning in strategic locations in the country.

Donations are part of WHO’s on-going collaboration and support funded by the Bloomberg Philanthropies for the road safety project and the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

WHO donates vehicles and equipments to boost health in Kenya s

For further information, please contact:

World Health Organization, Kenya 4th floor ACK Garden House.
1st Ngong Avenue off Bishop Rd.
P.O. BOX 45335, 00100 (GPO)
Nairobi, Kenya.

wrkenya [at] ke.afro.who.int (wrkenya[at]ke[dot]afro[dot]who[dot]int)