Religious Leaders will partner with the government to fight the spread of Coronavirus as confirmed cases of the deadly virus in the country rose to 28 with more than 500 other people were quarantined awaiting results of their tests.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the government will collaborate with the churches through faith based hospitals that will come in handy and assist in the event of a shortage.
He told a press briefing after meeting religious leaders from various denominations that the discussions centered on possible ways of containing further spread of the highly contagious pandemic.
“One such hospital is the NCCK hospital in Huruma which will be supported in terms of equipment to assist where the government feels short,” Kagwe said.
Photos by Nicholas Nthenge/KNA
According to the religious leaders, the NCCK hospital has a capacity of 178 beds right now.
“This is not the only hospital but also others that we will support, to beef up capacity even as we address the epidemic together,” he said.
The CS thanked the religious leaders who have been supporting the government at this time of need saying the government needs all hands on deck at the moment.
“We have spoken a lot of things we will do and the way forward and feel very grateful that the leaders are willing to support and cooperate with the government.
The NCCK chairman Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki consoled Kenyans saying that God was in control of the situation and that the government was doing all what it takes to ensure everything is well and put together.
“Government cannot work in isolation and that is why we are here today,” he said quoting scripture from the book of Isaiah Chapter 26, verse 20 in the Bible when the nation of Israel faced God’s wrath and were told to go in hibernation and quarantine themselves for a while.
Bishop Ndambuiki said that the church was still hoping and believing that the efforts of what the government is doing and also what the church is doing will in the next 21 days change things.
Archbishop Ndambuki who was accompanied by Rev John Mbae of PCEA, Father Joseph Waweru of the Catholic Church in Nyeri, Bishop Hudson Ndeda among other NCCK members said they were willing to assist government in giving messages of hope and love to Kenyans and also to those affected by the coronavirus even virtually.
The church, according to the religious leaders was also willing to assist when it came to relief especially to the vulnerable groups.
By wangari Ndirangu
