This archive report was first published on 18 May 2020.
As of Monday, Kenya had reported 887 confirmed cases and 50 deaths from the coronavirus. The pandemic has severely disrupted the lives of many, particularly in informal settlements where following government directives such as social distancing, using sanitizers, and washing hands frequently is a significant challenge.
Proper hand washing has been emphasized as a crucial measure to prevent the spread of the deadly virus. However, accessing hand-washing equipment has been a major obstacle, especially in informal settlements.
Partners for Care, a non-governmental organization based in Kahawa Sukari, has stepped in to address this issue by donating portable hand-wash bags to several slums within Nairobi.
Since the pandemic started in March, the organization has distributed over 2500 portable hand-wash bags to informal settlements such as Marurui, Kibra, Kahawa Sukari, Mathare, and others.
According to Samwel Wanjau, the Director of Partners for Care, the organization aimed to support the vulnerable members of society by donating the portable hand-wash bags. 'The pandemic has affected the livelihoods of many people in informal settlements, and we thought it wise to at least remember them by donating the portable hand-wash bags to help them wash their hands frequently.'
Partners for Care has been working with community leaders to distribute the water backpacks and set up hand-wash stations within the areas. The organization has also been targeting areas with ongoing businesses, as everyone tries to make ends meet during the pandemic.
Resident Mary Mugambi from Kahawa Sukari expressed her gratitude for the hand-wash bags, which have played a vital role in preventing the spread of the coronavirus, especially in market areas. 'People in these small markets now wash their hands frequently, and apart from just avoiding the spread of the coronavirus, washing hands helps avoid many illnesses.'
Before the coronavirus pandemic, Partners for Care was establishing hand-washing points in schools around the country. However, the organization shifted its focus to addressing the pandemic's impact on informal settlements.
Connie Cheren, CEO and Founder of Partners for Care, explained that the organization's efforts were driven by the need to address the lack of access to clean water in many schools. 'Too often, we witnessed schools using re-purposed jerrycans and discarded plastic buckets to transport water to the class, and saw those same containers being used to dispense water to the students.'
