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Hospitals ink deal with City Hall to handle food testing


MP Shah and Nairobi Hospital will now handle food testing in the capital’s hospitality industry before issuance of certificates by City Hall.

This comes after a contract between the Nairobi County Government and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) was cancelled over alleged non-remittance of fees amounting to Sh120 million to City Hall between July 2015 and May this year.

MoU

Speaking during a graduation ceremony at Mater Hospital over the weekend, the Executive in charge of Health Dr Bernard Muia said City Hall entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the private hospitals as they had the equipment required for testing.

“We are entering into partnerships with these private hospitals who have the technology to examine the food industry when it comes to health in a bid to create service delivery to the people,” said Dr Muia.

He added that not all in the food industry will be examined by the Nairobi Hospital but special clientele such as the United Nations and five star hotels like Kempinski.

Dr Muia said that food handlers have been classified into different categories and that others will be handled by county health workers.

ISSUING CERTIFICATES

The role of issuing the certificates will solely remain under the County Government while the hospitals carry out the examinations.

He added that negotiations with Mater Hospital are currently underway with the aim of inking a similar deal.

Health and food handling certificates cost Sh1000.

Dr Muia added that City Hall will also work with private hospitals to help with referral cases in a bid to decongest the Kenyatta National Hospital and other county health facilities through Public Private Partnership (PPP).