Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Owili this morning received a donation of Water Sanitation Supplies from OXFAM to bolster the fight against Covid – 19 pandemic in the County.
Kisumu County alongside Nairobi and Mombasa are beneficiaries of OXFAM’s Sanitation Programme aimed at supporting prevention and containment of Covid – 19 Virus within informal settlements. At least 19,000 households from the three counties are set to benefit from various sanitation supplies. Kisumu County received the highest donation including 60 20 litre handwashing stations, 300 boxes of surgical facemasks, 400 boxes of gloves and hand washing soap to be distributed in selected schools, health facilities and market centres. 54 stations will be distributed to learning institutions with primary schools receiving 39 and 15 going to Early Childhood Centres. Kuoyo, Migosi and Kisumu County Hospital will each receive one handwashing station with remaining three being distributed to different markets.
Speaking as he received the consignment, Dr. Owili quickly noted that the timely support will go a long way in curtailing the spread of Covid – 19 that has ravaged many households. He added that Kisumu is blessed to have supportive partners such as OXFAM through the Kisumu County WASH Network. He related the gains made in containing the spread of the virus to support from valuable partners.
OXFAM’s Public Health Promotion Officer Madam Mary Omondi on her part said that a total of 16,080 households will have access to free and safe water for a period of 5 Months as the all their water bills shall be catered for by OXFAM through E – voucher system. This is in addition to 16 schools which will also have their water bills catered for the next three (3) Months.
The intervention will go a long way in providing the necessary support to various schools that were adversely affected by the pandemic and floods that destroyed school’s infrastructure. The Early Childhood Centres that are experiencing double intake as a result of the schools closure will be more than happy to have the necessary facilities to take care of the young ones. According to Kisumu County CEC for Education John Abiero Awiti, at least 106 ECD centres out of the existing 669 within Kisumu County do not have access to clean and safe water.
Already, the County Government through the department of Water and Environment has embarked on a countywide programme aimed at improving water facilities and pipeline extension to help improve water provision coverage.
The Deputy Governor was also joined by the CEC for Water and Environment Salmon Orimba and his Health and Sanitation counterpart Prof. Boaz Nyunya
By: Nancy Juma
