KENYA: Prelates in Kenya Call on the Government to “Prioritize Available Resources,” Curb the Surge of Covid-19 Pandemic
Plenary Assembly - November 2020 (Mary Mother of God - SUBUKIA)
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
As Kenya faces a second wave of Coronavirus infections after lifting stringent measures that were meant to stem the spread of the virus leading to more deaths in the country including doctors who have been in the frontline in the fight against Coronavirus, Bishops in Kenya have called on the government to prioritize available resources to health care system to help respond to the pandemic.
“We have noted with great concern the recent surge in Covid-19 cases, positivity rates and mortality rates especially as reported during the month of November 2020,” bishops under their national body the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) said in a statement signed on behalf of the chairman Archbishop Philip Arnold Anyolo and narrated, “We are concerned that, despite budget availability and commitment by the Executive, resources have not been consistently provided to support the health care system to adequately respond to this pandemic, leaving health-care workers exposed and vulnerable,”
They further explained in the statement released Friday, November 2020, “As such, we ask the Government leadership to move with haste to prioritize the available resources within Government and provide the required facilitation to the health-care system to allow it to respond to the burden of this disease.”
The Bishops message come days after the country reported deaths of four doctors who died of Covid-19 in 24hours.
“We are deeply concerned that we have recently lost many health care workers including Doctors, nurses and other cadres. These have been the force behind our many reported recoveries and have given Kenyans the much needed hope during this difficult period,” the Church leaders bemoaned in their collective statement.
“We cannot continue to watch the only hope of the Kenyan people go down through loss of hope and especially loss of life as we have witnessed in the past few days,” They lamented further.
Following the medical practitioners’ call of strike starting next month if the government doesn’t heed to their request when many are working yet exposed without protection, the Prelates have asked the government to dialogue with the relevant health authorities and come to consensus.
“With a looming Doctors’ strike and disquiet among other cadres, we also ask for urgent but genuine dialogue with health-care workers’ Unions so that their concerns can be meaningfully listened to and addressed,” the Bishops appealed in their Friday statement.
The Church leaders have reiterated the President’s message reminding Kenyans to take personal responsibility “to comply with the infection prevention guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health.”
“Our great worry is the lack of compliance with these prevention guidelines by a section of the leadership of the Country and subsequently by many Kenyans,” the Statement reads I part and highlights further, “We are convinced that undertaking the right measures as guided by the health authorities and adopting these with speed, the spread of this virus can still be contained and as such wish to emphasize on every individual’s responsibility to protect oneself, family and community from Covid-19.”
The Church leaders have applauded health workers for dedication in their work saying, “We express our deep appreciation and admiration towards health-care workers who have continued to work to save lives despite the challenges they are facing. We pray to God for your protection even as you have given your lives serving the sick and those most in need of mercy. May God’s blessings be upon your lives and your families.”
The Bishops have called on all Kenyans and people of good will to continue praying for the end of this pandemic, as they condole with the families of those that have lost their loved ones through Covid-19.
