Catholic sisters have started a six-month campaign to encourage Kenyans to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
The sisters said they hope to reach approximately five million people through their Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya.
The drive is expected to reinforce the position of the church, which now supports Covid-19 vaccination.
“We applaud the Ministry of Health’s efforts in Covid-19 response and recognise that a successful war against the pandemic requires public and private sector support in advocacy on the vaccine uptake, provision of essential medical supplies, protective gears and behaviour change communication,” Pasilisa Namikoye, executive secretary of the association said.
The Hilton Foundation funded the campaign and will work through 80 sister-run health facilities across the country.
Approximately 1,500 front line health workers will benefit from training to build their capacity and knowledge on Covid-19 during the campaign period, which ends in December.
The sisters will also encourage communities to embrace Covid-19 preventive measures and get vaccinated.
“Catholic sisters have always worked to improve and increase the accessibility of basic healthcare to the most vulnerable in the communities,” Pasilisa said.
“We would like to utilise our vast distribution across the country, direct engagement in the health sector and proximity to the masses to disseminate Covid-19 information to communities we serve and encourage vaccine uptake.”
The sisters said they have always worked to improve and increase the accessibility of basic healthcare to the most vulnerable in the communities.
In Kenya, the Catholic Church provides health services through 65 hospitals, 90 health centres, and 300 dispensaries run by approximate 5,837 healthcare providers.
At least 300 of these facilities are run by sisters.
In May this year, Kenya’s Catholic bishops urged citizens to accept the inoculations.
“In absence of other means to stop or even prevent the Covid-19 pandemic, the common good calls for vaccination, to protect the weakest and most exposed,” Archbishop Philip Anyolo, chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops said.
“Receiving the available Covid-19 vaccines ought to be understood as an act of charity toward other community members.”
In a statement, the archbishop also said the vaccine can only be given to an individual who gives informed consent.
“We, therefore, appeal to Kenyans to accept the vaccines in the light of the assurance given by the Ministry of Health,” Archbishop Anyolo said.
They also urged all Kenyans to adhere to prevention protocols.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris