Kenyans in diaspora rally support in the fight against Covid-19

Kenyans living abroad through the Diaspora Covid-19 Task Force(DCTF) have rallied technical and financial support to help Kenya fight the coronavirus.

Through the Kenya Diaspora Alliance(KDA), Diaspora Institute, Kenya North America Diaspora Sacco(KNADS) and the Diaspora Health Task Team, they are mobilising funds to complement the government’s efforts in the fight against Covid-19.

The Diaspora Covid-19 Taskforce was instituted in March and has been coordinating their efforts to mobilise funds and offering advisory support to the members.

The Diaspora Health Task Team(DHTT) collaborated between KDA, Kenya Medical Association, Chandaria Foundation, Optiven Foundation, Kenya Relief.org, and among others, have been stimulating the government’s realisation of the universal health coverage.

The diaspora team has so far managed to put up a health facility in Wajir ans supported women groups to produce 10,000 face masks per day in eight (8) counties.

Also, it is pressuring the government to return home Kenyans who are stuck in China, India, USA, and Middle East countries.

The alliance’s chairperson Dr.Shem Ochuodho said his team has realized their critical role and impact.

“We have noted the critical importance, difference and impact of our intervention in health and general socio-economic standing of the beneficiaries within and out of the country. While more activities are lined up, the taskforce has embarked on massive mobilization of resources, in the form of funds and in-kind support. To be able to accomplish what we have set out to do, we are seeking partnership, collaboration, cooperation with our partners and other volunteers,” said Dr. Ochuodho.

The chairperson of the task force Rosemary Musomba said the pandemic will stretch the health systems.