Nairobi County launches feeding program to ease Covid burden
Nairobi County has launched a feeding program to assist families that have acutely been affected by the pandemic.
Steered by the Chief Officer Disaster Management Mohamed Sahal his deputy Brian Kisali and County Executive Committee Member Winfred Gathagu the program will run in all the 17 sub-counties.
Acting Governor and Deputy Governor Anne Kananu who flagged the feeding program on Saturday, April 17, said Nairobi County has identified over 127,500 vulnerable households in need of support.
"We have however picked about 25,500 households most desperately in need of food assistance for the next three months. This population includes the most vulnerable, Women, People Living with Disability, those living with HIV and other chronic diseases," said Anne Kananu.
She added, "Due to the high number of positive cases we have in Nairobi, our County has been placed under lock down. The outbreak of this disease has also resulted in the locking down of four (4) other counties, exposing vulnerable families to serious food insecurity challenges. The combinations of all the above factors have contributed to a lot of hardship to the vulnerable population of our county"
The county is set to donate 130 tons of maize and wheat flour, 50 tons of sugar, 60 tons of rice, blankets and among other items.
The portions will be distributed to identified beneficiaries on a weekly basis over the next three months across all the 17 sub-counties.
The program is targeting vulnerable people mainly women, people living with disability and the elderly in the informal settlements.
County Chief Officer Disaster Management Mohammed Sahal said the county intends to work with area Members of County Assembly who will go door to door to donate the foodstuff to avoid the spread of the coronavirus.
John Kamau, Komarock ward Member of County Assembly thanked Kananu for remembering the vulnerable in the society. Kamau was speaking after he received food donations for Komarock Ward in Embakasi Central sub-county.
"These donations will go along way in helping over 500 elderly people who are over 70 and above and other vulnerable groups in the Embakasi Central," said Kamau.
