A CHANCE AT HUMANITY

It has been more than a month since the first case of covid-19 was announced in the country. 

We have witnessed major changes being introduced by the government to curb the widespread of the virus, from closure of learning institutions ,closure of bars and entertainment joints,stay at home campaign, lockdown of Nairobi, curfew times to the latest being wearing of masks in public.

This virus has brought  economy to a hault leaving many struggling to meet  their basic needs, others have had to lose their jobs while the few who still have the job are forced to take a pay cut,nonetheless another day another chance.

One of the first fundamental principles of  Red Cross is HUMANITY that can be explained simply as desire to allevate human suffering without discrimination. 

Kenya Red Cross has given volunteers a chance to serve the community during this pandemic, through sensitization  of covid-19;  it's preventive measures i.e 1.5 metre social distance , how to wear and remove face mask and 30 second hand washing method, all these is done through face to face demonstration and public address system.

demonstration of hand washing at nyagacho area

public address at Koru

A team of 5 volunteers who are geered up(facemask, gloves, name tag and emblem); 4 at the field and 1 at the office  for report writing, embark on this humanity journey from Monday to Saturday. Those in the field go to all assigned areas and cover a population of close to 20000 a day answering all questions pertaining covid-19.

So far we have done prisons, police stations, markets ,town residents and rural residents in kericho county (6 sub counties).

In the rural areas, we help them to make improvised clean water and soap for hand washing as shown above.

In the spirit of allevating human suffering, we help distribute food, clothes   to those affected by flooding and landslide that has been common during this rainy season, we warn them also to move to  safer grounds among other kind of assistance available.

flooding in Fortenan kericho

distribution of household items to landslide victims at kutung primary.

It is not always a smooth ride as we encounter challenges day in day out, such as ignorance of 1metre social distance rule, weather -kericho is a rainy county sometimes it hinders our activities and stubbornness by residents to give an ear among other issues.

I am grateful for this chance  from Kenya Red Cross to participate in stopping the spread of covid-19. We ask you to stay at home to flatten the curve and make our work as volunteers easier.

 

We do this because we know 'volunteers are not paid because they are worthless but because they are priceless' a quote by Sherry Anderson.