American personnel arrived at Kenya's Laikipia Air Base on Saturday as preparations continued for a controversial U.S.-backed Ebola isolation facility, despite a court injunction temporarily blocking the project.
The facility is intended to receive Americans exposed to Ebola and will be supported by a specialised team from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. The team includes physicians, nurses, laboratory technologists, mental health practitioners, and engineers trained to manage infectious disease outbreaks.
The project has sparked intense debate in Kenya, where a High Court recently issued an injunction halting its implementation pending the outcome of a legal challenge. Petitioners argue that hosting an Ebola isolation centre could pose risks to public health and have questioned why the facility appears designed primarily for American citizens.
Government defends plan
Speaking on the controversy, Kenya's Health Cabinet Secretary dismissed claims that Ebola patients were being brought into the country.
