If there is one group of people who we should protect from COVID-19, it is our healthcare workers. Ok, we should protect everyone but the healthcare workers case is different because they’re the ones anyone who falls ill depends on for recovery. As they face their work, Personal Protective Equipment is one assurance towards their own health and energy to continue working.
As central Government and county Governments continues with its efforts to protect our frontline workers, private sector is also lending a helping hand. Safaricom Foundation for example has come in to the tune of Ksh7 Million worth of N95 masks, hazardous materials suits, face shields, surgical gowns and masks as well as hand sanitsers.
These have been donated to healthcare workers in Meru, Kajiado, and Baringo to help in the fight against coronavirus.
In Kajiado County, PPEs will go to Kajiado County Referral Hospital, Ole Kasasi Health Center, Kitengela Sub-County Hospital and Loitoktok Sub-county Hospitals. In these hospitals, 200 workers will receive face masks, eye protectors, gloves, sanitizers and protective clothing.
In Baringo County, the PPEs will benefit 300 health workers in two health centres and an isolation facility. The equipment includes N95 masks, surgical masks and protective clothing.
These are not the first counties to receive protective gear from Safaricom Foundation which has been at the forefront of helping the country to manage this pandemic. The Foundation has donated PPEs to Uasin Gishu and Mombasa counties and helped set up sanitation booths in 6 Counties in Nyanza and Western. Residents of Kibera, Mathare, Kawangware and Korogocho have also benefited from Safaricom Foundation water funded projects while several Counties have also received handwashing soap.
In April Safaricom donated KES200 Million through the Safaricom and M-PESA Foundations towards providing Cash transfers for food to support vulnerable communities as well as thermal cameras worth KES 10 million to the Ministry of Health installed in various border entry points.