By Njoki Githinji
NAIROBI, AUGUST 18, 2020 (CISA)-The Consolata Missionaries in Kenya and Uganda region have rolled out Covid-19 response initiatives to create awareness and provide treatment for Covid-19 patients.
“There are two parts of the initiative. The first is creating awareness and the other is establishing two Covid-19 treatment Centres. We got funding from the Italian Episcopal Conference and we produced information materials like banners, fliers, brochures and posters, translated into English, Swahili, Dholuo, Luhya, and Samburu languages and distributed throughout our parishes so that people can take awareness on what Covid-19 is,” Fr Zachary Kariuki, Vice Superior Kenya/Uganda region told CISA.
“The two Covid-19 centres one with 21-bed-capacity in Rumuruti Catholic Dispensary in the Catholic diocese of Nyahururu, and the other with 16-bed-capacity in Sagana Catholic Dispensary in the Catholic Diocese of Murang’a have been built and fully equipped in readiness for any eventuality of Covid-19 infections in the areas,” he adds.
With support from the Ministry of Health in the respective counties of Laikipia and Kirinyanga, medical personnel in the two Covid-19 Centres have been trained on how to handle Covid-19 patients.
According to Fr Kariuki, the centres are attached to dispensaries in the Rumuruti and Sagana parishes and there is a possibility of putting up more around the country in parishes that have health facilities attached.
“If we had more funding we could establish more in other places. We are trying to solicit funds for other dispensaries that we run around the country,” he said.
On the onset of Covid-19 in March, Consolata Missionaries began mobilizing Christians to donate food, clothes and protection materials for the needy in their parishes around the country.
“We called for our missions to begin their Covid-19 response committees, all our missions are doing that. So the donations we get we channel to them. We also buy materials for protection and distribute them to the needy families. The response has been good, the Christians have been contributing a lot,” said Fr Kariuki.
Consolata missionaries are an international religious and missionary family of about 1,000 priests and brothers, 900 sisters and lay people consecrated for life to the missions.
