10 May 2022 | UNDSS Comms
As news of the first reported case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Kenya dominated the airwaves and television screens, panic, speculation, and uncertainty loomed countrywide. Impulse buying, restriction of movement, ban on social gatherings, curfew, and working from home became the new normal. The country was now experiencing the effects of a global pandemic that had only remained a news item. As the Government of Kenya issued and enforced COVID-19 containment measures, the UN in Kenya had to activate and update the existing pandemic and contingency plans. ¡°We reviewed and updated the pandemic contingency plan in collaboration with World Health Organization and through the business continuity plan mechanism to reduce the impacts of COVID-19 on UN personnel and their beneficiaries,¡± said Dr. Pinckie Njoroge from the Joint Medical Services (JMS).
Due to its new nature, the fight against COVID-19 required collaboration among various stakeholders. This entailed COVID-19 testing, awareness campaigns, coordination of care during quarantine, isolation, testing and treatment stages of COVID-19 exposure, and mental health support to COVID-19 patients, their families, and colleagues. ¡°In partnership with UNDSS, we supported staff and dependents who were in quarantine facilities and enabled essential movement during the restrictive phase of the pandemic,¡± added Dr. Pinckie. A field hospital facility with a capacity of 100 beds was also constructed to handle the surging numbers of COVID-19 related cases in collaboration with the host government. ¡°UNDSS also enforced access control to ensure that only essential personnel accessed the UN compound in order to contain the virus spread,¡± she added.
The discovery of the COVID-19 vaccination one year later came as a global sigh of relief. ¡°We commenced the vaccination campaign in March 2021 with the administration of primary series of vaccines targeting UN personnel and their dependents,¡± explained Dr. Pinckie. On its part, UNDSS supported vaccine collection from the Government of Kenya deports and crowd control at the vaccination center within the UNON complex. ¡°Collaboration between JMS and UNDSS made it possible to run a smooth vaccination campaign. As a result, we have been able to host major events at the complex including the UN Environment Assembly,¡± noted Ms. Zainab Bangura, Director-General, United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON).
Since the start of the COVID-19 campaign, over 24,000 doses have been administered translating to over 95 percent coverage of UN personnel in Kenya. To date, the Government of Kenya has relaxed some containment measures and the UNON has also increased office occupancy to 60 percent of staff. Thanks to these successes, the UN can securely resume humanitarian and development operations in the country.