Pictured above: Caregivers from AIC Kanzinwa Child Development Center pick tomatoes from the church garden to bring home to their families.
Compassion Kenya’s Response to COVID-19
Over the span of 21 days, Kenya’s daily average of active COVID-19 cases has dropped from about 1,015 to 533. As of May 2, Kenya has administered enough doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to fully inoculate 0.8% of its population of 48.4 million people, up from 0.2% last month. The country’s president has lifted its COVID-19 lockdown; schools, businesses and religious services can now resume with some restrictions. Economic hardship continues to worsen as a result of the pandemic, which is also increasing food insecurity.*
Most Compassion centers have resumed in-person programming, however staff are facilitating lessons in small groups and regularly sanitizing surfaces. Other centers remain closed to protect the health and safety of mothers and babies. Survival Specialists are ministering to caregivers through phone calls and home visits, and ensuring that all prenatal and postnatal medical needs are met. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Compassion Kenya staff have distributed over 243,000 food packs and 59,500 hygiene kits to children and their families. They have also provided medical support to more than 74,000 individuals. Please keep the staff at AIC Kanzinwa in your prayers as they minister to mothers and babies during constantly changing circumstances.
*Updated as of May 14, 2021
Survival Statistics at AIC Kanzinwa Child Development Center (July – December 2020)
-
- 23 Babies and their mothers served
-
- 4 Compassion-assisted births occured
-
- 100% of babies born at a normal weight
-
- 2 babies, on average per month, treated for malnutrition
Recent Survival Activities
-
- Caregivers receive water tanks for hand-washing in their homes. They practice safe hygiene to help prevent the spread of the virus and protect their babies from common disease.
-
- Survival mothers hold vertical farming bags. These bags can be filled with soil and seeds, and the vegetables and herbs grow through holes in the bags.
-
- Staff members distribute Bibles to families in the Survival program so they can continue learning and growing in their faith at home.
A Letter of Hope from a Caregiver at AIC Kanzinwa Child Development Center
Hello,
Greetings from me and my fellow Survival mothers. My name is Linet, and I am mother to Murithi. It is my hope that you are doing well and staying safe. The mothers and babies in the Survival program are doing great, and we are thinking of you and praying for you. I am grateful to God for giving us life and also for giving me the chance to be a part of the Survival mothers at AIC Kanzinwa Church. I would also like to say thank you for your continued support. You have really made a great impact on our lives, and we pray God’s blessings upon you. May He answer your prayers according to His will.
Since I joined the Survival program, my family and I have really experienced a great change in our lives. I joined while I was pregnant, and the journey has been so great. I learned how to take care of my baby even before I met him. I now know how to take care of my baby and my entire family. We have been taught about the importance of hygiene, and this has helped me take care of my baby as well. We receive nutritional supplements through the church, which helps our babies grow healthy. My baby is healthy, and I pray that he continues growing well and that God will be with him.
We received vertical farming bags for growing vegetables. This has helped my family because we can eat healthy, and my baby really enjoys eating the vegetables. Additionally, we received water storage tanks and hand-washing tanks. I encourage my family to always wash their hands. On behalf of the entire group of Survival mothers, I want to say thank you again. We have been impacted, and our lives will never be the same. We appreciate your continued support. Blessings to you, and remember that God loves you!
Yours faithfully,
Linet
*Letter edited for clarity