ORGANISATIONS TEAM UP IN EFFORTS TO CURB COVID-19’S SPREAD IN GARISSA, MANDERA AND WAJIR

Rotary Clubs in District 9212 (Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and South Sudan) have partnered with the Kenya Red Cross and the National Business Compact in an effort to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in three counties of  North Eastern Kenya.

The Rotary Clubs, through their members’ contributions have donated fifty handwashing stations that will be distributed in Garissa, Wajir and Mandera, through the Kenya Red Cross. The three counties account for forty six out of the two thousand, three hundred and forty Covid-19 cases reported so far. Rotary has also donated one thousand food hampers and personal protective equipment (PPE) to be distributed in three medical facilities in the counties.

“This contribution is part of our interventions that have seen members of Rotary, their networks, corporate institutions and individuals raise funds over the last three months, to help flatten the Covid-19 curve across Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and South Sudan,” said Rotarian Dr. Joe Kamau, Chairperson of the Rotary District 9212 Emergency Response initiative.

 “Our contributions have provided timely interventions to more than four million people in forty counties across Kenya. In the next three months, we will reach out to all forty seven counties in a step wise manner. Our interventions including seven hundred hand-washing stations, each with a one hundred litre tank have provided over three and a half million hand washes. We have also provided food relief for over thirty thousand beneficiaries and through Flowers of Hope, we have provided moral support and PPE to twelve thousand, seven hundred and fifty frontline medical workers during this period,” he added.  The contribution by Rotary will be distributed over the next week across the three counties and it is expected to help stem the ongoing spread of coronavirus.

“The Covid-19 response has presented enormous health and socio-economic challenges to various communities,” said Dr. Asha Mohammed, secretary general, Kenya Red Cross. She added that the Northern Kenya residents are also currently grappling with the impact of floods and desert locusts. Consequently, the   response activities in the region should be integrated in order to address the adverse effects of the three disasters.

The National Business Compact (NBCC) has complemented Rotary’s efforts by providing over 15,000 bars of hand washing soap.  “ NBCC has been focusing on promoting and educating Kenyans in applying good health practices through initiatives such as hand washing and sanitizing to ensure that the public is safe throughout the pandemic,” said Myriam Sidibe, the NBCC chair and  co-founder.

“The coalition in partnership with the Government of Kenya   has set up  hand washing stations in hotspots within the country with donations of two thousand  stations set up in Nairobi, Central, Coastal areas and donation of over thirty thousand  bars of soap to reach at least six  thousand  families through the Food for  Education,” she added.