Sh156m grant to probe depth of Covid-19 spread

Kenya has received Sh140 million to investigate whether people donating blood, expectant women and health workers have been exposed to the Covid-19 virus.

The £1.1 million (Sh156.1 million) grant will support research by the Kemri-Wellcome Trust programme in Kilifi County and the Ministry of Health.
According to a statement posted on the UK government’s website, the study will end in June 2021. It will recruit the three groups of people: the asymptomatic cases, those asymptomatic, those with mild and severe symptoms.

Kemri-Wellcome Trust Programme has already started investigating how many Kenyans could have been exposed.

While announcing the funding during a virtual session with Kenya, the UK’s International Development Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “We believe these studies will provide robust predictions about the spread of infection and help to control the disease, contributing to keeping us all safe.”

The funding will also allow exchange of knowledge between Kenyan and UK scientists on the pandemic response.