A Kenyan Company, Trounce limited in conjunction with the government of Japan has donated 70, 000 face masks, 2,000 litres of sanitizers and water containers to the residents of Bomet County.
Receiving the donation Bomet Governor Dr Hillary Barchok said the organization’s contribution in the prevention measures against Covid-19 had come at the right time when the schools had opened doors to learners countrywide after closing last year March.
The Governor said that the education department had identified twelve rural primary schools which are in the remote parts of the county to benefit from the face masks.
“We have rural schools which will not even access the sanitizers or face masks, they are the ones to be given first priority in case of any future donations,” he said.
He said that the county had over 200 Early Childhood Development Education (ECDEs) centres with a population of 53,000 learners who will be provided with free face masks by the county government as directed by the national government.
“We are through with all the procurement procedures and the ECDE learners face masks are ready for distribution next Monday January 11, 2021,” Dr. Barchok said.
He said that his administration will map out a strategy where a health facility at a locational or sub locational level are attached to a number of schools to monitor the level of compliance with ministry of health containment measures.
“Reports reaching my office is that some children were sent away from school since they did not have masks and this donation is noble gesture from our friends in Japan in the fight against Covid-19,” the governor said.
He pointed out that as school opened, every stakeholder should comply with the safety measures provided by the ministry of education that each child must wear a mask to school and also follow the laid down health protocols.
Adding that the county will support the ministry of education, ministry of health and frontline workers such as teachers and health workers struggling with Covid-19.
He said public health officials have been adequately trained on how to handle learners in schools while monitoring schools they are attached to.
The Company director Mr Weldon Siele and the Japanese representative Ms Mai Sakaue said the donation was part of the group’s corporate social responsibility.
Ms Sakaue said that her organization was working with the slums in Kenya especially groups in Mukuru kwa Njenga and Githurai in Nairobi.
She said that the masks were made in Kenya and approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) which are reusable and of high quality.
By Joseph Obwocha
