The County department of health in collaboration with UNICEF and other implementing partners today launched a campaign initiative to step up the efforts to stop the spread of Coronavirus in Kisumu.
Led by the County director for health and sanitation, Mr. Fred Oluoch, the department released 900 hand-washing units of 20 litres capacity, supported by UNICEF to go towards the COVID-19 preparedness and response through risk communication and community engagement promotion, a move that is set to strengthen the fight against Corona Virus in Kisumu.
Speaking during the launch which was conducted at the Kisumu County Referral Hospital, Mr. Oluoch said the roll-out of the risk communication and community engagement promotion is in line with recently released guidelines by the Ministry of health to carry out health promotion in support of the other COVID -19 interventions.
Having been listed as one of the 14 high-risk counties for community transmission of COVID-19 attributed to Kisumu International airport, Lake Victoria seaport, various landing beaches, international high ways and being a business hub for East Africa, the County health department rolled out an awareness campaign to reinforce the existing COVID-19 preventive measures and demonstration of hand-washing techniques by the Community health workers ( CHWs) in targeted informal settlements, markets, bust stations and beaches.
The department of health supported by UNICEF through a direct cash transfer of Ksh. 1.2M, procured the 900 units to reinforce the fight against the spread of the pandemic in the targeted areas. The units will go a long way in demonstrating hand-washing techniques and will be evenly distributed in all the 7 sub-counties as follows, Kisumu East -100, Kisumu central -380, Kisumu West -80, Muhoroni -80, Nyakach -80, Nyando -100 and Seme to get 80.
The 30 days’ risk communication and county engagement campaign will be rolled out simultaneously to the sub-counties to step up awareness creation in public spaces and informal settlements on the use of face masks, hygiene promotion, and social distancing.
The CHWs have been tasked to ensure the continuous practice of the protocols in the public spaces.
By Matilda Atieno
County Director heal Mr. Fred Oluoch issuing hand washing units to t go to the 7 Sub-County targeted areas
