UPE schools, markets receive COVID-19 items worth sh120m

EDUCATION|HEALTH|COVID-19

A total of 114 Universal primary schools and 36 markets in Kampala and Wakiso districts have received Covid-19 preventive items to support the prevention of coronavirus in high risk areas.

The markets and UPE schools to receive preventive items are in areas of Namugongo division, Bweyogerere, Kira, Nakawa, Lubaga and Makindye.

The items worth Sh120m consist of: 150 temperature guns, 450 jerricans of liquid soap, 150 sets of hand wash facilities with capacity of 60 litres each, an assortment of information education and communication materials with messages on Covid -19 prevention.

According to Prossie Maraka, the programme Manager of Kampala Area Federation of communities (KAFOC), on September 23, when they had an inspection meeting with town clerks, education officers and commercial officers in charge of markets, agreed that markets with big crowds and UPE schools which have a big number of vulnerable children receive Covid-19 prevention materials.

"Each of the identified schools and markets will receive a temperature gun, three Jerricans of liquid soap, a set of hand wash facility and an assortment of IEC materials with Covid -19 messages," explained Maraka.

She made the remarks during the flagging off of Covid-19 prevention materials at Kampala Area Federation of Communities office in Kireka on Thursday (December 3, 2020).

With the support ChildFund Uganda received from Standard Chartered Bank, the purchase aimed to promote positive knowledge, skills and practice among UPE schools and markets in response to Covid 19 pandemic.

Since most of the vulnerable children in Kireka come from poor backgrounds, Catherine Nasike Wanyama, the headteacher of St Marys Nursery and primary school said when schools opened, some children did not report to school due to lack of masks.

"We had to look for children in areas of their residence because almost 50% of the children had not returned. I believe children having extra face masks will help them from reusing the same masks."

To prevent the spread of coronavirus in schools, Prosper Lwamasaka, the supervisor of Education services of Kampala Capital City Authority, (KCCA) revealed that before schools opened, they did a specialised inspection to ensure that all KCCA schools were compliant with the Standard operating procedures.

According to Lwamasaka, so far 657 schools in Kampala have not had any cases of Covid 19, except one school he declined to disclose which registered one case of a child.

Next year, if President Yoweri Museveni lifts the ban on schools, Lwamasaka said: "We are confident that we shall be able to contain the situation."

Besides the lessons education officers have learnt from candidate classes, Lwamasaka said they have developed strategies that can help them to ensure that schools adhere to preventive measures. 

Jenner Kanalo, a youth development specialist who represented Dr Charles Luwaga, the ChildFund programs Director stated that "We hope Ugandans keep being vigilant and mindful of applying the Covid-19 prevention measures as they interact with different people in markets."

While addressing journalists, Isaac Kawonawo, RDC Kira appreciated KAFOC for reaching out to vulnerable communities during these difficult times of Covid-19.

Besides NGOs which have fulfilled their obligations, Kawonawo said: "When you hear the government fighting certain civil society organisations, it is for a genuine cause because some NGOs are promoting their personal interests, teaching and sensitising people how to demonstrate by burning tyres."

To empower communities, Kawonawo advised Political leaders, cultural leaders to work hand in hand with NGOs which are protecting and building capacity of the people.