Govt to Use Safaricom in Issuing Face Masks

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe (Left) and his Chief Administrative Secretary Mercy Mwangangi during a press briefing in March 2020.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe (Left) and his Chief Administrative Secretary Mercy Mwangangi during a press briefing in March 2020.
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Health CAS Dr Mercy Mwangangi on Wednesday, April 8, announced that the government would partner with Safaricom to issue face masks to Kenyans.

Speaking during the daily briefings from Afya House, the CAS noted that corporate companies had been quite helpful towards the fight against Covid-19.

"For our corporates, I am pleased to announce that Safaricom, PLC has offered us the utilization of their more than 175,000 agents across the country to provide a logistic distribution system for us," Mwangangi announced.

Health CAS Dr Mercy Mwangangi addresses the media at Afya House on Thursday, March 26, 2020
Health CAS Dr Mercy Mwangangi addresses the media at Afya House on Thursday, March 26, 2020
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She added that the Kenya prisons had also agreed to make additional face masks.

"I encourage other institutions and corporates to find ways in which they can lend a helping hand in this epic fight for our motherland and our common heritage," Mwangangi continued.

Further, the CAS pleaded with those who are in possession of oxygen cylinders that were not in use to consider availing them to the government.

"Avail them to us for the purposes of boosting our capacity in preparedness for any worse situation that may come," she stated.

In addition to the measures already issued by the government, Mwangangi shared a new directive requiring those working in barbershops and salons to wear face masks when attending to clients and to provide hand sanitizer.

"This disease has shown itself to be blind to our creed, our colour, our status, our age, or dare I say, our height.

"It is the reason we are calling for "one-for-all-and-all-for-one approach to save ourselves," Mwangangi noted.

"More than ever before in our history, we are called to drop all our titles, beliefs, status, age and religion to fight this menace," she added.

As at Wednesday, April 8, Kenya has 179 cases of confirmed Covid-19 cases, six deaths and nine recoveries.

Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr Mercy Mwangangi pictured during a press briefing, March 26, 2020.
Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr Mercy Mwangangi pictured during a press briefing, March 26, 2020.
File
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