Health Cabinet Secretary (CS), Mutahi Kagwe, has today urged schools to ensure there is a high standard of sanitation that include hand washing points in schools, particularly during this period of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He stressed on the need to place more emphasis on the preventive rather than curative measures on matters of health as this will go a long way in reducing hospital visits.
Speaking after he met Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) officials who paid him a courtesy call at his Afya House Office, the CS noted that it was very important that teachers come out and get vaccinated in the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination exercise.
“I am appealing to the union officials to assist the Ministry in encouraging more teachers to come out and get vaccinated against the disease and also assist in the school feeding programme to enable reduce absenteeism in schools among pupils,” the CS appealed.
By more teachers turning for Vaccination, Kagwe said, it could also dispel the misinformation and propaganda about the jab that is being peddled by those opposed to vaccination.
During the meeting the CS and the KNUT officials deliberated on the school health program, including nutrition and hygiene as captured in the Kenya School Health Policy that was established in 2018.
On the other hand the Union officials thanked the CS for having prioritized teachers for vaccination against the Covid-19 disease.
They also pledged to use their countrywide network that includes 110 branches as well as their representatives in schools to assist the Ministry in the vaccination campaign.
The KNUT officials were led by the National Chairman, Mr Patrick Karinga. Others included the Secretary General, Mr Collins Oyuu, National Treasurer, James Ndiku, Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Hesbon Otieno, and 2ND National Women Representative, Ms. Mercy Ndungu.
Meanwhile, the government has, today, received equipment worth Sh. 32.1 million from WHO with the support of the European Union (ECHO Fund).
The donations included Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 250,000, surgical masks- K95 13,900, face google -5,000 and isolation gowns-4,200.
Others are Oxygen concentrators- 10 units, Laboratory reagents kits – 1,500 units and swabs- 39,500.
Speaking when receiving the donation at Afya House, Health Principal Secretary (PS), Susan Mochache, said the support is quite timely and will go a long way in strengthening the country’s response efforts.
The equipment and PPEs, the PS added, will be given to Kenyan health workers around the country to ensure they are properly geared and protected while providing services to the people.
“WHO has donated equipment and PPEs in four tranches since December 2020 cumulatively valued at Sh110, 167,335.164”, the PS said.
She thanked WHO for the continued support both technical and material in the ongoing Covid-19 management and mitigation efforts.
“The socio -economic impact of the pandemic calls for sustained collaboration between governments and partners and it is in no doubt that WHO ably provided guidance to countries across the Globe,” she said.
Mochache said everyone has a responsibility in the fight against the pandemic and thus urged the public to continue observing the Covid-19 measures and ensure compliance.
By Wangari Ndirangu
