The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the critical importance of sanitation, hygiene and adequate access to clean water for preventing and containing diseases.
In response to Covid-19 outbreak, the German Investment Corporation (DEG) has implemented a solar water desalination project in 28 key hospitals and health clinics across Kenya, Tanzania, and Zanzibar.
On Thursday, the Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr. Rashid Aman commissioned the Kenya project at Kibra Level 3 Hospital to mitigate the impact of the pandemic by supplying over one hundred thousand litres of hygiene drinking water daily in 28 key hospitals across East Africa.
The CAS who was accompanied by his counterpart in the Ministry of Water, Dr. Andrew Tuimur, and the Director of Health Services Nairobi County, Dr. Ouma Oluga, thanked the German Investment Corporation for the initiative and called for more public-private partnerships (PPP), particularly in the areas of internet connectivity, e-health, solar installation, and universal health coverage.
He said the Ministry of Health has a legal framework on PPP and is currently focusing on strengthening health facilities to implement the universal health coverage. “Water is part of our agenda,” he added.
The Develop.PPP COVID-19 Programme involved installation of solar water desalination systems complete with sterilization units into 28 hospitals in East Africa,23 of them in Kenya, 2 private, 1 faith based and 22 government facilities.
It was implemented while ensuring full sustainability and reliability to the beneficiary hospitals with the advantage of having solar powered systems, ensuring minimal running costs, including staff costs, and repairs and maintenance.
The German representative Mr. Christian Friedemann said the Solar Water Desalinations Systems will help to distribute 50 litres of water daily and boost the achievement of social development goal 6.
