AFRICA/KENYA - Covid 19: contagions increase and children of Catholic institutions lack priority goods

Thursday, 28 May 2020 coronavirus   children   religious institutes  

Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) - The health emergency caused by Covid 19 continues to aggravate the situation of the most vulnerable children. The Association of Sisterhoods Kenya (AOSK) is at the forefront in responding to the needs of children in Catholic care institutions.
Various difficulties have emerged through the Catholic Care for Children Kenya program (CCC-K) such as the interruption of donations to homes that care for children with the consequent lack of supply of food, health protection devices, running water and all the main measures to contain the spread of the virus.
In a report shared by Sister Delvin Mukhwana, coordinator of the CCC-Kenya program, the different challenges faced by Catholic institutions have emerged, in addition to the fact that most of the houses depend on benefactors, such as small Christian communities, who are currently unable to support the offers.
AOSK, for its part, has responded to this crisis by sending funds to the various childcare institutions (CCI) to support them in the purchase of basic necessities. In total, 127 CCI benefited from this fund, hosting over 10,000 children and over 5000 indirect beneficiaries.
Sister Mildred Nekesa, administrator of Mother Ippolita Children's Home Ndithini, diocese of Machakos, said she was grateful for the enormous contribution of AOSK and stressed that during the most difficult moment of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Association supported their CCI with funds to buy food, soap, disinfectants, face masks and to meet other important needs of children.
According to information from the Kenyan Ministry of Health, the Country registered 123 infections on 27 May, the highest number of Coronavirus cases in one day and three deaths.
Currently the total number of people infected within the country is 1471. Minister Mutahi Kagwe specified that of the 123 cases, 85 come from the capital, including Mathare slum with 33 infections and Kibera slum with 14, plus other cases distributed in other poor areas of the city, but also in commercial and populous neighborhoods. In Mombasa, and particularly in the Old City, another 24 cases, while after more than two months one case has been reported in Kilifi County. The youngest positive case registered is a one-year-old, the oldest 76. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 28/5/2020)


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