This archive report was first published on 28 June 2021.
Kenya: Affluent Alumni Help Vulnerable Lake Region Schools to Fight Covid ¶
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to affect schools in Kenya's Lake Region, affluent alumni have come together to support vulnerable schools in the area.
One such school is Bedie Primary School in Lambwe ward, Mbita sub-county, Homa Bay County, where pupils had to line up at two handwashing points to clean their hands before going to class.
However, thanks to the efforts of Homa Bay County Agriculture Executive Aguko Juma, who adopted the school under the Lake Region Economic Block's (LREB) Adopt-a-School programme, the pupils now have access to additional handwashing containers.
"I have also donated washable face masks, a carton of soap and a thermogun to the school to enable pupils to minimise the risks of contracting Covid-19," Mr Juma said.
According to LREB education pillar director Easter Okello, the Adopt-a-School programme has reached out to 1,000 schools in the 14 counties under the programme, but 14,000 schools are yet to benefit.
"We started the project immediately schools reopened as a Covid-19 mitigation programme. Basically, we do resource mobilisation to buy soap, face masks and handwashing equipment," she said.
Mr Juma also announced plans by the county government to supply clean water to the school to boost hygiene.
"The school will soon start enjoying clean and safe water from the tank that would be delivered periodically in water bowsers. I will also encourage other community members to support this school and others around here," the county executive said.
Bedie Primary School headteacher Josephine Onyango welcomed the programme, saying it will enable children at her school to stay safe from other diseases as well.
"Besides coronavirus, handwashing prevents cholera and other waterborne diseases," she said.
Ms Okello noted that the uptake of the initiative was still low, saying not enough well-wishers are coming on board.
"The uptake by alumni to support the initiative is low. Out of the 800 schools in each county, only 100 are supporting us. This calls for re-strategising our communication system," she said.
Additional reporting by Elizabeth Ojina.
