Mining firm Base Titanium has set up several hand washing stations in Kwale County, to enable traders, boda boda operators and other commuters along the Mombasa-Lunga Lunga highway to maintain proper hygiene.
Waa/Ngombeni ward Member of the County Assembly Mwinyi Mwassera, who officiated the handing over of the units, appreciated Base’s support in fighting the spread of COVID-19 in Kwale County and urged residents of Waa/Ng’ombeni ward to make use of the facilities.
He said the initiative is laudable one that should be emulated by other well-wishers during this difficult time when the country is battling the Covid-19 crisis.
Mwasera urged residents to embrace good sanitation practices, social distancing and observe other preventative measures outlined by the Ministry of Health to curtail the spread of Covid-19.
He said on Tuesday that hand washing is critical since hands are carriers of diseases, causing pathogens to move from person to person either through direct contact or indirectly through surfaces.
The coronavirus can be passed on when a person who is infected coughs or sneezes, and small virus-laden droplets land on the people or surfaces around them.
“Hand washing with soap removes germs and kills viruses thus curbing the transmission of respiratory infections like covid-19,” he said and urged people to discard unhygienic practices.
Meanwhile, Base Titanium together with the Kenya Red Cross Society and civil society groups in Kwale, has begun a door to door sensitisation programme throughout Kwale County to educate households on how to control the spread of COVID-19.
Pius Kassim , Base Community Relations manager said they had partnered with key stakeholders both at the National and County level to provide assistance to local communities including provision of hand washing units in high traffic zones, distribution of hand sanitisers and disinfecting homesteads and classrooms across the county.
He said hand washing and adhering to good personal hygiene is the way to go to slow the spread of the virus infection.
By Hussein Abdullahi
