Just for interest. Some information on the how they are trying to deal with Covid in the slums on Nairobi from a source I trust.
"Our situation in the slums is unique compared to most developed countries. Our people do not have
the funds to buy water to wash their hands. Most of our families
live in a single 2 or 3 metre room / shanties with between 5-10
persons. The social distancing is not an option for them. The
alleys and walkways in slums range between 1 to 3 metres. With
a population of over 600,000 persons contact is unavoidable. To
compare the density rate with some countries: USA 36 persons per
square kilometre; Australia 3; Ireland 71; United Kingdom 278;
Austria 106, Kenya 94. In the Mukuru slums the rate is more like
83,000 people (source:
Population of Kenya. 2020 demographics: density, ratios, growth rate, clock, rate of men to women.)
The majority of people in slums do not have secure work, they are casual workers, selling vegetables,
washing clothes, or selling simple foods such as boiled eggs or chapatis when possible. The slum
economy is a subsistence economy. There is no welfare system to support them during this crisis.
The Government ordered the closure of all schools and centres last week. This means that 62% of
our staff will not be at work. Our funds from donors support a host of activities in the primary schools,
high school, vocational training centre, disabilities centre, rehabilitation centre and clinic. These vital
activities will be placed on hold. Our clinic and rehabilitation centre will remain open as they are
essential services. We have decided with the Sub-County Childrens Office to remain open as the
boys have nowhere else to go.
On Wednesday 25th March we distributed food parcels to hundreds
of families who have not eaten in days. The vast majority of our
children come to school and receive their first and only meal at l
pm. Unfortunately, at one place the riot police had to attend and
disperse the crowd with tear gas due to the sheer numbers of people
needing food. People saw that our families were carrying empty
bags and realised that something what happening.
Of the five phases of pandemic levels, Kenya is currently at phase
two. This involves reported cases and various restrictions from the Government to contain the spread
of the virus. It has 31 confirmed cases, 1 death, 745 are being monitored out of which 98 were
discharged after the 14 day quarantine, and 15 pending results. We know that these figures will
change rapidly. The country will receive 25,000 new testing kits in the coming days.
We realise that many people around the world have lost their jobs and are able to access their
country’s welfare benefit system. Kenya does not have a welfare system and because of this we will
have thousands of persons in the slums dying from starvation and dehydration as well as the
coronavirus. We can’t do anything about the space
and density rate, but we can do something with their
immune system. If you would like to help sponsor an
“immunity boost parcel” that contains kale, oranges,
maize, water, amaranth flour, disinfectant, paper
towel and soap donations can be made direct to the
Commonwealth Bank."
globalnews.ca
edmontonjournal.com
