• He said caregivers, breastfeeding mothers, parents with young babies and all children should be monitored closely.
Image: COURTESY
As the country endeavours to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, children are nearing the brunt as neglect and abuse cases start to rise.
According to Cyprian Muriuki, programme coordinator in Emali and Kajiado for the Childfund Kenya, a non-profit that advocates for children needs, cases of child abuse, sicknesses and hunger are being reported more but the right interventions are lacking.
He said caregivers, breastfeeding mothers, parents with young babies and all children should be monitored closely.
"We are calling on the government to enlist children safety measures as essential services to enable interventions for children who are at risk," he said in a phone interview.
He added that farming households in the county have been affected by the ongoing pandemic due to limited assets or alternative livelihoods to fall back to in such times.
He also said that climatic changes have severely affected their lifestyles and source of daily livelihood as they struggle to find adequate nutrition.
"We want the government to also supplement what other advocacy groups are doing to help keep children fed and safe at home," he said while installing a water facility for the Email community. Childfund is giving vulnerable families that are having pregnant and lactating mothers, and children, with weekly cash transfers to help sustain their needs.
"We are giving Sh1,500 per household. The requirement is for the home to have children," he said.
Currently, the advocacy group has been engaging in a door to door campaign to sensitise the locals of Emali area on the need to follow government health guidelines geared towards combating spread of Covid-19.
They have so far reached over 339 children in 60 households in Nzaui and Mashuuru sub-counties through creating awareness and issuing hand washing facilities. Recently, Email Dedicated Children agency, EDCA, has also started mass production of face masks that will be distributed to all the children in the area.
In partnership with Mashuuru Sub-county COVID-19 emergency response team, Nalala Community and Noutresh Water Company, the agency has engaged on a mass sensitisation campaign to teach children how to wash their hands to curb coronavirus.
During the launch of the campaign that was presided by the Mashuuru Deputy County Commissioner, EDCA donated ten units of 1000 litre tanks and hand washing liquid soap.
Noutresh water company will be providing the water for the tanks, Nalala Community organisation will deliver the water to the various designated points while the national government will ensure the tanks are safe and secure at all times wherever they will be stationed to ensure the public continues to sanitise themselves to keep the spread of Covid-19.