Statement Regarding Coronavirus: COVID-19 Update
March 2020
COVID-19 Update: How is the COVID-19 virus affecting the Nasio Trust and the children and communities we serve?
Posted on March 17, 2020, at 9 a.m. GMT
Please rest assured that Nasio Trust staff are closely monitoring COVID-19 virus developments in Kenya, Tanzania and the UK.
Keeping our children safe
Our priority remains keeping our children, patients and the communities we serve in Kenya safe. Cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Kenya. Currently, we have no cases of COVID-19 among our children, communities, patients in our hospital, staff in Kenya, or the UK.
Our staff are making sure that everyone understands the importance of regular, thorough handwashing as this is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of coronaviruses and COVID-19. This teaching already formed a regular part of both our children’s and peer education teaching on hygiene and disease prevention. With the schools in Kenya currently closed we made sure to reinforce this message when guardians collected their children.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) currently advise against all but essential travel to Kenya. https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kenya/health#coronavirus
The Kenyan authorities have introduced a number of measures to limit the spread of the virus including restricting individuals, except Kenyan citizens and resident permit holders, from entering Kenya if they have come from countries affected by coronavirus (COVID-19), including the United Kingdom. These measures will come into effect as of 17 March.
The Tanzanian authorities have introduced a number of similar precautionary measures. There are also now confirmed cases in Tanzania and further information can be found on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tanzania/health#coronavirus
Protecting our supporters
We are aware that this impacts our supporters who are due to volunteer at our projects in Kenya and it also raises concerns and questions for those who are planning to climb Kilimanjaro over the next weeks and months.
We hope you will understand the importance of adhering to government guidelines to prevent further spreading of the disease. In response to the ever-changing situation and in order to keep the communities we serve safe and prevent any extra strain on local hospitals, we are suspending imminent international Nasio trips until further notice.
We are suspending imminent international Nasio trips until further notice.
We’ll be contacting everyone due to travel to Africa with us in the next 2 months to personally discuss the best course of action.
We will work with you to reschedule your plans regards the Nasio accommodation and the Kili climb bookings. We appreciate for those with trips planned further in the future we need to wait to see how the situation develops.
Please contact your airline and insurance companies as relevant if you have existing travel plans that may already need to be changed or to understand impacts on future changes. We are led to believe that most airlines are providing complete flexibility in changing plans at this time as, of course, will we here at the Nasio Trust to ensure you can continue with your trips safely at a future date.
Keeping in contact and up to date
Contact us if you have further questions or concerns. And continue to keep updated on the UK government guidelines:
- Kenya travel advice: UK government
- Kenya Ministry of health advice
- Tanzania travel advice: UK government
We will keep this page on our website updated so please do also check back here for the latest news.
Join us in prayer
It is at times like this that it’s clear we are all one family. Can we ask you to join with us in praying for:
- Protection from the virus for all Nasio’s sponsored children and their families.
- Protection for the patients and staff at the George Mudenyo Kadima Medical Centre.
- Health and safety for the wider communities of Mumias and Musanda western Kenya.
- Health and safety for all our staff in Kenya and the UK.
- Health and safety for all our Nasio supporters and their families and friends who have been impacted by the virus.
‘I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.’ Psalm 34:4
Thank you for holding Nasio Trust in your prayers at this critical time.
How you can help
At times like this many charities, the Nasio Trust included, will suffer a reduction in income as fund raising plans have to change to protect all of us and all of those we serve.
If you are in a position to give a personal gift to Nasio at this critical time please do make a donation online to ensure that our vital services in Kenya can continue in full.
Also please consider helping us change lives for good and giving peace of mind through regular giving by sponsoring a child.
Thank you.
This story is listed in: About Nasio, Coronavirus, Press, Security & Safety
