By HENRY OWINO
Kibera-residents-going-for-Covid-vaccination-after-CCC-Kenya-launches-campaign-scaled
It is regrettable that yet another variant of Covid-19 has emerged branded as Omicron and is already in Kenya. The variant is said to be more deadly, severe, and contagious compared to existing known strains.
In Kenya, the Omicron variant was declared on 14 December 2021 after two individuals identified with the variant, had a travel history from South Africa and Ghana. The transmission is now communal following the individual’s interaction with other people before tracking them down.
According to health experts, the Omicron variant is worse in terms of transmutability and effects compared to other existing variants. While variants such as Alpha, Beta, Delta among others take between 7-14 days to show their symptoms, Omicron takes three days only. Dr. Willis Akwale, Chairman, National Covid Vaccine Taskforce cautions Kenyans that the Omicron variant is more severe and everybody needs to be vigilant.
He urged Kenyans to get vaccinated and those vaccinated to adhere to the laid-out health protocols. “We are encouraging Kenyans who have not been vaccinated to go for it. The jab helps in boosting body immune system to fight the virus effectively should one be infected,” Dr. Akwale pleaded. Adding, more variants could come in future as it keeps on changing structure.”
Declaration by the Government of the existence of Omicron variant coincided with the launch of Covid-19 Crisis Communication Chapter in Kenya (CCC-Kenya) at Kibera, Nairobi. The project is being implemented by Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA) with funds from DW Akademie.
The CCC-Kenya as the name indicates is here to provide accurate information on Covid-19 which has been mirrored by the diffusion of misinformation and conspiracy theories. It has resulted in the deterrence of substantive preventive measures like vaccination, social distancing, and face masks as a political ploy. William Oloo, Chairman KCA revealed that the association is stepping in as media stakeholders in response to the Covid-19 crisis.
He said the community depends on media to relay accurate, objective, timely and impactful information. Reasoning that media as part of the community and also as Civil Society Organization has the responsibility to educate and disseminate accurate information to the public.
Also hinted that the CCC-Kenya team, will work with the local community to provide evidence-based and accurate information in various media outlets including word of mouth and information, education & communication (IEC) strategy to create awareness and disseminate information regarding the benefits of Covid vaccination and its protocols. “Our intervention is generally aimed at countering and debunking massive infodemic already spreading on vaccination and tell the truth. We shall create awareness of health facilities to get a vaccination, operational days and hours as well as engaging of younger adults in pandemic misinformation management efforts in social media platforms.” Oloo explained.
Kibera is an informal settlement and cosmopolitan estate with almost every community represented, it best fit for an experimental project,” Oloo explained. Adding; “As a crisis communication hub, we are going to do our best to disseminate right and accurate information concerning Covid vaccination to residents,”
According to Oloo, the most urgent and pressing need that the CCC-Kenya team targets to address include debunking misinformation, misconception, myths, and propaganda going around in the community concerning Covid-19, vaccines, and vaccination.
He regretted that misrepresentation has gone viral mostly in; Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, tik-tok resulting in vaccination hesitance among residents. “As CCC-Kenya team, we have expertise in various fields. So, we are going to employ our skills in sensitizing residents on the importance of adhering to Covid-19 protocols and administration of vaccines,” Oloo disclosed. “Our specialists range from Public Health Officers, Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), NGOs, Religious leaders, Persons with Disability (PWDs), Journalists, Community leaders, and Chiefs all drawn from Kibera,” he clarified.
The launch of the CCC-Kenya Project came barely a month after the committee members had gone through eight weeks of rigorous training. They include journalists, public health officers, CSOs, and NGOs.
The launch, therefore, kick-started the mission of the CCC-Kenya project in Kibera. These include sensitizing the community on Covid-19 protocols, vaccines, vaccinations, inoculations health facilities, debunking fake news in various platforms not limited to providing essential personal preventive effects (PPEs) such as masks, sanitizers if need be.
Mildred Walwa, CHV at Kibera explained communal endorsement of misinformation on Covid-19 vaccination varies across sociodemographic groups. For example, young women claim it kills sexual libido thus overall sexual drive or desire, while men purport it damages sperms thus fertility hence one becomes impotence with erectile dysfunction.
The elderly argue it quicken death after two years and the community condemns it as western culture and non-African cultural practice. Religions dismiss Covid-19 as satanic and vaccination is not a solution but prayer and fasting. “Misinformation has played a role in discouraging residents. Again, depending on the level of literacy, people believe and take it seriously,” Ms. Walwa regretted.
Patrick Mutua, Public Health Director, Kibera sub-County commended the CCC -Kenya team for involving health experts in the project. He applauded the collaboration saying it will enhance the uptake of vaccination among residents thereby reducing the risk of severe Covid infections.
Dr. Mutua was contented with affiliated organizations as conversant with Kibera and residents which will make intended communication much easier. He, however, blamed poor communication channels and coordination that is giving room for misinformation hence the main hindrance to vaccination uptake.
Dr. Partrick Mutua appends his signature as a commitment to the task ahead while Steve Obaya looks on.
He anticipated that the CCC-Kenya team is coming with a renewed style of information dissemination that is scientifically accepted to attenuate belief in misinformation. The doctor predicted if accurate information changes current community narratives, vaccination is likely to burgeon. “If you want to succeed in anything you are doing with community, always involve their leaders.
People usually recognize and trust their leaders much better than unfamiliar faces,” Dr. Mutua advised. So, when residents see these CHVs, Chief, religious leaders, and others, I am sure they will become receptive and respond positively unlike to strangers,” he emphasized.
Dr. Mutua assured the CCC-Kenya team that he will ensure vaccines are available for residents at local health facilities in Kibera. He, however, cautioned that all vaccines are safe and effective to provide protective measures against Covid-19, hence no need for demanding a particular brand. “The choice of certain brands belonging to the rich or cluster of people it is not true but propaganda peddled in social media,” Dr. Mutua refuted the claims.
All vaccines are approved by WHO for safety and efficiency, so brands names are from companies and countries of origin or manufacturer,” he clarified. “For example, Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine is from the USA and it is administered ones. So, everybody tends to crave for single dose for full protection. Many people fear injection,” Dr. Mutua pointed out. Otherwise, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna which require two doses are available with us.”
Nehemiah Amwocha, the area Chief expressed his gratitude for the good initiative saying the project has come at the right time. “There is another variant of concern as we speak. Omicron variant it is,” he said. Amwocha disclosed that residents deliberately stopped wearing face masks and washing hands or sanitizing claiming the disease is long gone.
The area Chief admitted that enforcing Covid protocols to residents has been a nightmare especially in informal settlements such as Kibera where the majority are poor. He pointed out that water is a major problem in the estate that many households lack. Residents claim they use the little water they fetch, for essential services like cooking not for washing hands, one of the containment measures against Covid-19. “So, as a government representative in the community, we welcome any interventions by KCA and CCC-Kenya team. We are fully behind this initiative and ready to work with you. We will provide security,
participate in various supportive activities were necessary to help sensitive residents on Covid-19,” Chief affirmed.
Malaysian Hamida, an Environmental Crusader did not hide her bliss as CCC-Kenya unveiled its planned progressive activities in Kibera. For her, it was a wake-up call to get up, roll-up her sleeves for the work ahead. She back to residents and push for vaccination notwithstanding other Covid protocols. “It is unfortunate that all washing hands stations are no longer in operation due to laxity. Time to bring them back is now…., otherwise this Omicron variant should not be taken for granted,” Hamida cautioned. “Without prompt action, we are likely to go back to stringent restriction measures. The government may introduce curfew and lockdown any time soon,” Hamida posed.
Francis Odera, CHV was quick to anticipate challenges likely to be encountered ahead of CCC-K project implementation. This is heightened political rallies by aspirants across the country in the forthcoming general elections in August. “We need to be very cautious while outside there in the field so that we are not confused for a political outfit. Many residents may not differentiate between sensitization on Covid vaccination and campaigning for a political seat,” Odera advised. Odera said some aspirants may want to associate with the CCC-K team because of good work in the community on Covid and credit themselves for political mileage. This can turn around against the team from competitors and attack members.
Overcrowded population-with-no-face-masks-in-Kibera-slums
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