Kwale-based Australian mining firm Base Titanium is scaling up it’s free food distribution process in parts of Kwale and Mombasa counties aimed at mitigating the effects of the corona virus (covid-19).
The Base Titanium Community Relations Manager, Pius Kassim said with the local economy disrupted as a result of the coronavirus restrictions many families are struggling to put food on the table.
Kassim said the mining firm has kicked off its fourth phase of emergency relief food distribution with a donation of 500 food packs to residents of Likoni sub-county of Mombasa.
“We are providing food supplies enough to feed a family of five,” he said on Monday adding that the mining firm will not let anyone die of hunger as a result of the global health pandemic.
He went on “so far close to 2,000 families in Likoni have benefited from our food programme that cushions vulnerable families from the effects of covid-19 pandemic.”
He revealed that over the course of the week, Base Titanium will be distributing more relief food to vulnerable families in Kwale county with the fourth phase targeting residents of Matuga, Lunga-Lunga, and Msambweni sub-counties.
He said local fishermen who depend on tourist hotels to buy their fish but with most hotels closed they too need food donations to support their families.
Kassim said they also assisted with food items 190 fishermen, 143 boat operators and 88 curio sellers plying their trade-in Ukunda Township of Msambweni sub-county.
He said last week, Base was in Bongwe Gombato ward in Matuga sub-county to distribute more foodstuffs to vulnerable families as part of its emergency relief efforts to support Kwale residents during this period of the pandemic.
“310 residents from the area benefited from food hampers and face masks to help stop the spread of the virus” said Kassim who is coordinating the mining firm’s response to the covid-19 situation in the region.
He said Base Titanium through close co-operation with the county government of Kwale has been at the forefront in ensuring that residents have a shoulder to lean on by providing emergency relief food to vulnerable families.
He said Base Titanium will keep providing food supplies to hotel workers, tour guides and other vulnerable residents of Kwale whose income has been affected by the covid-19 pandemic.
Kassim also revealed that the consignment of 192 ventilators being donated to the Ministry of Health to support the government’s covid-19 response arrived in Kenya last week.
He said the initiative, led by Stanbic Bank, has seen Base Titanium fund 100 of these life-saving devices which will be delivered around the country to areas most in need.
Kassim said the contribution will significantly boost the government health care system in the ongoing fight against the respiratory disease.
By Hussein Abdullahi
