By Lucas Barasa
Editors from various media houses in Kenya have initiated a campaign to appreciate healthcare providers during the fight against Coronavirus disease.
This is as the number of confirmed cases hit 296 on Tuesday.
Under the Kenya Editors’ Guild (KEG), the editors launched the campaign dubbed Saa Sita (Saa 6) whose aim is to encourage all to pause at mid-day to celebrate frontline workers in the war against Covid-19.
This will be done every Wednesday at noon.
People are asked to pause to clap for health care providers, journalists, police officers and others on the frontline as a sign of solidarity as they play their roles.
During the Daily Briefing by the Ministry of Health on the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry hailed KEG for its bold step.
“I want to thank the Kenya Editors Guild together with Kenya Medical Association and Association of Nurses for initiating a campaign dubbed ‘Saa Sita’. In this campaign, at midday every Wednesday, all will stop and clap for the healthcare worker,” said Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe in a statement read by Chief Administrative Secretary, Dr Mercy Mwangangi.
“Every Wednesday at 12 noon sharp, wherever you are, pause what you are doing and for a minute, clap or honk your horn. All are encouraged to use this to signal their support and encouragement to frontline workers in the fight against Covid19. Take a video or photo and send it to your favourite medic, media worker, police officer or other frontline worker,” read part of a joint statement by the Kenya Editors’ Guild, the National Nurses Association of Kenya, and the Kenya Medical Association.
Kenya Editors’ Guild President Churchill Otieno acknowledged that duty puts many journalists at risk, “but it also helps many avoid burdening our health workers and hospitals with sickness.”
“We celebrate professionals who selflessly continue to serve on the frontline, and ask the public to make their work easier by staying at home,” said Mr Otieno.
The Covid-19 pandemic has also seen a number of journalists infected with the disease both locally and internationally while in the line of duty.
National Nurses Association of Kenya boss Alfred Obengo said the campaign will impact the lives of health care workers by giving them morale and support which is crucial in dealing with the pandemic.
“Sometimes, just to hear someone tell you that you are doing a good job is all it takes,” added Mr Obengo.
Kenya Medical Association President, Dr. Jackie Kitulu, while paying tribute to health care workers, commended the media fraternity for thinking about health care workers during this critical period.
Kenya has so far recorded 74 recoveries and 14 deaths as a result of Corona Virus.
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