Covid 19 showed up in Kenya in March 2020. Little was know about the mysterious disease and yet all were aware of its fatal savagery. Nairobi being the host to the country’s popular entry point – Jomo Kenyatta International airport, it risked being the epicentre of the outbreak of the disease. Unfortunately, this came to pass.

The capital hosts also some of the most densely populated and poorly serviced neighbourhoods as far as social amenities are concerned. And as stakeholders pulled all the stops to contain the killer malady, we could all but imagine the impact it would have if it slipped into these neighbourhoods.

The health infrastructure in and around these neighbourhoods is not strong enough to cope with an outbreak, add the lockdowns and curfews enforced by the government, it is unimaginable the load these dispensaries and clinics have to deal with, considering the battering of the delicate economic and financial situation by the disease of people living in these areas.

Susan Kamore is a clinician working in a private clinic in Nairobi’s eastlands area and her clinic; Tunza clinic risk being overrun. She admits the load is heavy and without proper equipment and handling of suspicious cases, all that go through the clinic risk being infected.

Population Services Kenya, Stanbic Bank and Rotary club, joined hands to support Kamore and other health workers at the forefront of containing covid19 pandemic. Dr. Moka Lantum, a member of Rotary club said, they were coordinating a series of interventions to help strengthen the preparedness of these facilities. These donations, though modest; face masks, gloves, facials, goggles, sanitizers and disinfectants would last between 100 to 150 days.

Stanbic Bank and Rotary club identified Population Service Kenya as a good partner because of its access to over 400 primary health facilities in these neighbourhoods. Susan Kamore on behalf of other beneficiaries thanked these organizations and expressed confidence after they received the donations that they are in an improved position to handle the disease better at least before they effect referrals for comprehensive healthcare.