Nairobi, KENYA
Kenya and the UN on Thursday have resolved to
mobilize 310 million shillings (about 3.1 million U.S. dollars) towards
mitigating coronavirus in the country.
Walid
Badawi, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Resident Representative in
Kenya, said that the funds will help increase capacity of the healthcare
system, build resilience of vulnerable populations, social protection, and
advocate for the rights of women.
“We
are adapting this devolution support program to better assist Kenyans in the
fight against COVID-19,” Badawi said in a statement issued in Nairobi.
The
UN official said that partners have agreed to use existing funds that had initially
been committed to devolution projects.
The
UN official said that in consideration of the fast-moving nature of the crisis,
partners have agreed to an initial six-month work plan to strengthen Kenya’s
response to COVID-19 at both national and county-levels.
He
said that in this new plan, UNDP will lead in the development and dissemination
of Kenya and World Health Organization (WHO) guidance-based messaging through
radio, television, bulk short message service and social media.
“The
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will sensitize target populations on
best practices around water, sanitation and hygiene while UN Women will
undertake advocacy work to prevent an increase in Gender Based Violence (GBV)
and marginalization of women during the COVID-19 period,” Badawi added.
He
said that this support will also facilitate business continuity at the county
level for county assemblies and county executives.
Badawi
added that the UN Women will support the supply of personal protective
equipment (PPE) and provision of psychosocial to frontline health workers while
UNICEF will distribute WASH supplies at the sub-county level, and to rollout
cash transfers to 214 vulnerable urban households in each of 14 target counties
for six months.
He
said that UNDP will further facilitate the immediate deployment of over 50 UN
Volunteers (UNVs) with relevant medical experience to support healthcare
facilities.
“Provision
of technical support to address implications related to gender, water,
sanitation and hygiene, micro and small and medium enterprises (MSMEs),
socioeconomic impact and medical waste management will also be undertaken,” he
said.
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