This archive report was first published on 15 May 2020.
May 15, 2020 - In a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Nairobi's Kibera and Mukuru slums, Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) has partnered with Coca-Cola Foundation and Coca-Cola Beverages Africa - Kenya (CCBA) to scale up its initiatives.
SHOFCO will use the Sh10 million support from The Coca-Cola Foundation to provide water, hand sanitation, and public awareness in the two communities. The funds will also be used to enhance hygiene and sanitation by providing water, soap, and sanitizers to the communities.
Additionally, SHOFCO will provide emergency food support to ensure that the most vulnerable families don't starve as a result of food shortages and price spikes occasioned by the impact of the disease.
“SHOFCO is providing a total of 70 handwashing stations in Kibera and Mukuru, which are located at main entry points and staffed by volunteers who instruct people on how to wash their hands on entering and exiting the slums to keep the virus out,” said Kennedy Odede, founder and CEO of SHOFCO.
CCBA Managing Director Xavier Selga said, “We are all concerned about everyone impacted by the coronavirus outbreak in Kenya. The Coca-Cola Foundation and CCBA is keen to support our vulnerable communities to adhere to the required hygiene practices that have been prescribed by the health authorities to beat the spread of the virus.”
SHOFCO will also upscale its community outreach efforts using volunteers and community health workers to conduct door-to-door awareness, distribute illustrated Kiswahili information pamphlets, and identify anyone with possible symptoms for referral to the Ministry of Health for quarantine and testing.
The support is part of Coca-Cola's global efforts to help control the spread of COVID-19, with Kenya being among the 13 African countries in East and Central Africa receiving donations.
