Youth lead the way in preventing COVID-19 spread in Kenya’s informal settlements

Nairobi, 12 May 2020 – Young people in Kenya’s informal settlements, cities and towns are the driving force behind preventative measures in the community.

Over 175,000 handwashes have taken place at the youth-led handwashing stations supported by UN-Habitat in Kibera and Mathare settlements in Nairobi.

“The community is extremely supportive of the stations,” states Joyce Wambui, from Tasha Clan Youth Group, a host of one of the stations, “The community feels that through the youth they are empowered to take on the corona virus.”

In addition to handwashing, the staff at the handwashing facilities provide information and education services to the community on COVID-19 prevention. A newly introduced service is the checking of temperature in Mathare and Kibera. Some 500 people have had their temperature checked each day.

“When I go on my rounds to each station I do temperature checks along the way and at the handwashing stations,” said Isaac Muasa, Coordinator, Mathare Environmental One Stop which runs some of the facilities. “If someone has a high temperature we refer them to a clinic. This service is very popular with the parents as they want to know if their children are well or not.”

PEOPLE ALSO READ:

Twenty-two youth-led organizations, supported by UN-Habitat, the Canadian and Norwegian Governments, the private sector and local and the national government, have established 28 hand washing stations in Mathare and Kibera with another 25 planned around Nairobi. UN-Habitat plans to install 40 hand washing stations in 18 informal settlements across the counties of Kilifi, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri and Mandera and youth groups have been trained to manage them.

UN-Habitat’s work supports that of the African Union’s Youth Envoy, Aya Chebbi, who has called for African youth to play a central role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and the reform of service delivery.

“We can only create a better peaceful, integrated and prosperous continent, when African youth become the custodians of their own development,” said Ms Chebbi.

Temperature taking near the UN-Habitat supported handwashing facilities as part of  measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Mathare informal settlement, Nairobi, Kenya May 2020 © UNHabitat/Isaac Muasa
Temperature taking near the UN-Habitat supported handwashing facilities as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Mathare informal settlement, Nairobi, Kenya May 2020© UNHabitat/Isaac Muasa

Share:

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn

Leave a Comment

On Key

Related Posts

Youth must be engaged in decision making about their communities and cities

ByMaimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director, UN-HabitatVolkan Bozki, President of the United Nations General Assembly First Printed by The Star In Summary They have the power and responsibility to bring about positive change in their communities. What is clear is that it is time for everyone to not only listen to young people, but give them

Launch of Consultation on Youth, Cities and COVID-19 Policy Brief

The impact of COVID-19 has intensified the pre-existing challenges faced by young people in their day to day lives. Ranging from unemployment to lack of access of resources and services, there has been an increasing need for policies that will urgently address these issues. Because of this UN-Habitat has developed a Policy Brief on Youth,

Kenyan football star partners with UN-Habitat to provide masks for Nairobi Slum Dwellers

Nairobi, 26 August 2020—Kenyan football star Victor Wanyama has partnered with UN-Habitat to provide face masks to inhabitants of two of Nairobi’s informal settlements to protect them against COVID-19. So far, some 7000 masks have been distributed. Through the partnership, the Foundation of the Kenyan born footballer Victor Wanyama and UN-Habitat agreed to support communities

Call to Action: Urgent Request by Youth for Support To Fight COVID-19

The newly formed Youth-led COVID-19 Emergency Response Coalition has launched call to action while at the same time announcing its 1,500,000 hand washes as part of its #KomeshaCorona campaign to stop the spread of the corona virus in the informal settlements and towns of Kenya. “We are proud to announce this milestone,” states Coalition spokesman