This archive report was first published on 12 May 2020.
COVID-19's Devastating Impact on Nairobi's Slum Residents ¶
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, the Kenyan Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Taskforce has implemented various prevention and mitigation measures. However, these measures may not be effective for everyone, particularly those living in Nairobi's low-income settlements who rely on daily wages and cannot afford to stay home.
According to a recent survey conducted by researchers at the Population Council, most people in Nairobi's slums are adopting prevention practices such as social distancing, hand washing, and wearing face masks. However, they are struggling to stay at home due to financial constraints.
The survey, which involved 2,000 households in five Nairobi urban slums, found that 79% of participants had left their homes in the day before the survey, with 34% traveling outside of their slum. The survey also found that 89% of participants had worn a face mask in the last week, but 57% of those who did not always wear a face mask cited discomfort as the reason.
Hand-washing was also a widely adopted practice, with 95% of participants saying that most public spaces have hand-washing stations. However, barriers to regular handwashing included a lack of access to water at home (25%) and the inability to afford extra soap or water (32%).
The survey also found that the pandemic is having a negative impact on people's health and economic and social status. Most participants (68%) said they had skipped a meal or eaten less in the past two weeks due to financial constraints. Only 7% had received any type of assistance, and only half said the assistance given was enough to cover their households' most important needs.
Women may be disproportionately affected, with increased time spent on chores (67% vs 51% of men) and more women reporting a complete loss of income or employment compared to men.
Based on the findings, the researchers recommend that the Kenyan government continue its public education campaigns, with a focus on clarifying that everyone can be infected with COVID-19 and pass on the virus to others, even if they themselves are not at high risk from severe illness.
They also recommend that assistance be provided to avoid a secondary humanitarian crisis, particularly for women, and that current assistance efforts be ramped up in a coordinated way.
