Covid-19: Siaya villagers get sanitiser, masks and water tanks

Residents of South East Alego, Siaya County, on Tuesday received 2,000 litres of hand sanitiser, 70 water tanks and 2,000 face masks for use in fighting the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Ward Representative Joseph Mboha, who spearheaded the donation with the help of other well-wishers, said at least 5,000 people benefitted.

Among the beneficiaries were boda boda operators, who were given face masks.

Mr Mboha said they worked with community health volunteers, chiefs, their assistants and village elders in distributing the donations and educating the people on the Covid-19 illness.

He said protective gear was also issued to people involved in the sensitisation campaigns.

COMMITTEE

The MCA formed a 10-member committee chaired by local businessman Martin Otieno to mobilise resources for the fight against the virus and coordinate distribution of items to the people.

Mr Mboha said members of the team would include county medical staff residing in the ward, other professionals, a representative of the provincial administration and a community health worker or volunteer.

"In this first phase, we are targeting scaling up prevention efforts. Two water tanks were given to each market in the ward," he said.

The second phase of the initiative, he said, would focus on distribution of relief food to vulnerable families and people living with disabilities.

"I know this cannot be sustained by forfeiting salaries salaries only. Moving forward, we will mobilise resources through the ward committee to ease the burden of the pandemic on our people," he said.

Siaya County had recorded only two cases of the coronavirus by April 29.

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