Crowded Slums Pose Challenge as Kenya Braces for Coronavirus
— a couple from Spain and a Burundian who came from the United Arab Emirates. The country now has a total of seven cases.
No cases have been reported in Nairobi's Kibera section yet, but
residents of the vast slum are concerned as the crowded living quarters
would make it difficult to fight the deadly virus if it begins to spread
there.
Hezbon Kodek, who lives alone in a single room in Kibera, says poor hygiene compounds the problem.
"We have a pit latrine, but the neighbors — we are more than 100 rooms
sharing one toilet," he said. "It's a bit complex. And more so you find
that the water, there is a problem with water. Sometimes on Fridays
there is no water. It's a bit complex."
Sylvester Okoth, a 33-year-old father of two, lives in a single room with his family. He says they are trying to do everything possible to be safe from the virus.
"I
have left to God, but on the cleanliness part, we are trying to wash
our hands and the place we sleep," he said. "We keep it clean. On the
shared bathroom and toilet as people who share, we decided to make sure
all of us take the initiative to keep them clean and keep the
environment clean."
Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe says they are taking measures to prevent the outbreak of the disease in crowded areas like Kibera.
"We have got a team in the Ministry of Health that is going to start
going 'round within those slum areas so that they can be able to talk to
them and tell them what to do and tell them how to behave," Kagwe said.
"These are the areas we are saying that we are asking the county
government to take serious measure as far as cleanliness is concerned.
We are also asking the ministry of water, and they are assisting us to
do so to ensure that these areas have water."
Witnesses in Kibera say they have received leaflets educating the residents on the coronavirus.
But Kodek says he took issue with one particular recommendation.
"Stay home as much as possible. But how can we stay at home when you
need food to put in your mouth?" he said. "That's the question we ask
ourselves. How can you stay? So this thing is pandemic, and it's going
to kill all of us. How can you stay at home when there is no food?"
Among Kenya's neighbors, Somalia, Ethiopia and Tanzania have reported
cases of the virus. There are more than 500 reported cases across the
continent, with the only death so far in Burkina Faso.
VOA
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