The government is collaborating with churches to help prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
Speaking during the inter-faith council meeting at St. Emmanuel’s church in Kitale Thursday, Inter-faith Council joint secretary Paul Famba asked religious leaders to work closely with the government and other stakeholders to fight coronavirus.
“The first phase of re-opening of the churches has commenced and I’m calling on you religious leaders to encourage worshippers to comply with the ministry of health guidelines,” he said.
He added that the inter-faith council has developed protocols in sensitizing and creating awareness among religious leaders and clergy on how to check the spread of corona virus in their places of worship.
Trans Nzoia West County Commissioner Abdullahi Khalif asked the county inter faith committee to cascade information and guidelines for their various churches.
“The county inter faith council needs to cascade information and create awareness to congregational levels so as to effect compliance of the rules and guidelines issued by the inter faith council,” he said.
Trans Nzoia CEC Health Claire Wanyama confirmed that her department was already combating the virus in the already confirmed areas.
She however expressed fears that in the event of more numbers being confirmed, the facilities might be overstretched and asked residents to strictly observe the rules to bring down the surging numbers.
She asked the church to offer social psychological support to those stigmatised and their families.
Ms Wanyama said that out of 2,348 Covid-19 samples that Trans Nzoia County has tested, 48 have tested positive with 23 males and 25 females.
By Ngeywa Mosobin /Pauline Ikanda
