Shining Hope for Communities (Shofco) Founder and CEO Dr Kennedy Odede has offered the organisation's centres across the country to be used as holding centres for flood victims.
The centres numbering 19, are spread in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi, and Kisumu counties.
“I want to urge people to move away from river banks. As Shofco, we have centres across the country and they can use them for now. We stand with the flood victims during this difficult time,” Dr Odede, who is on a working tour in Jamaica, said via a video he shared on his social media pages.
At the same time, the Shofco founder said his organisation is mobilizing resources to ensure that flood victims are well taken care of.
“We are with you (flood victims) and we are mobilizing resources to ensure that our people get food and medicine. It is a tough moment and this is the time for us to come together,” he stated.
He also thanked Shofco Urban Network (SUN) youth for assisting in the rescue and recovery mission of flood victims in the Nairobi slums.
“I want to thank youth from SUN who have been helping those who were affected. My heart is with you and thank you so much for what you are doing,” he added.
There has been an outbreak of waterborne diseases in Mathare and Kibera slums as a result of flooding.
Shofco’s health department deployed Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in the Mathare sub-county and so far they’ve covered Hospital, Mabatini, Mathare 4A, Mathare 4B and Number 10 wards.
In Kibera, the CHPs are currently handling cases in Kiandaa, Silanga, Makina and Gatwekera wards.
The Shofco CHPs have so far visited 7701 households, distributed 72,000 aqua tabs and gave out 32,290 emergency co-packs (zinc and oral rehydration salts).
Some 184 patients from different camps have been treated at SHOFCO’s clinics.
The organisation has reached over 5,000 families with foodstuffs, bedding and household items and has moved several families to safer places.
“We know that people need psychological support and healthcare and our teams have been on the ground to ensure that the victims are fully supported.
“We do healthcare outreaches through our health clinics because several people have experienced diarrhoea, especially in Mathare slums,” Odede said.
The organisation is also mapping out highly affected areas in Kisumu, Bungoma, Homa Bay and Vihiga counties to send support in the coming days if the floods persist.
Through its SUN programme which has over four million members across Kenya, SHOFCO is getting real-time data from all the corners of the country affected by flash floods.
