Student leaders at the Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology (RVIST) in Rongai Sub County have mounted a sensitization drive about COVID 19 among communities neighboring the institution in the effort to ensure nobody drops guard against the deadly virus.
The awareness campaign slated for six weekends seeks to engage students and members of staff in making donations to buy face masks and hand sanitizers besides spreading the gospel about the need to stay vigilant against the virus more than a year after the pandemic struck.
RVIST`s student leader Dennis Rotich says the idea to empower neighbors with timely information and tools is necessitated by reports about people relaxing on the prevention protocols and fears about the emergence of more virulent strains of Corona virus.
Rotich says the campaign that was also rolled out within the institution last week seeks to enable needy students and members of the community neighboring the institution access face coverings and hand washing sanitizers and become efficient partners in the ongoing war against the virus.
He observed that people are increasingly disregarding curbs put in place by the ministry of health and this is contributing to rising cases and fears that this may reverse gains achieved so far in containing the virus and putting people`s livelihoods and health at risk.
He commended the management of the institution for supporting the campaign that seeks to make more than 1,000 students COVID 19 ambassadors in and out of the vocational institution.
RVIST Principal Dr. Dan Mutai joining and commending the initiative said it comes to complement efforts by the Government to sustain awareness about the virus among communities against a disquieting backdrop of emerging strains that are highly infectious and deadly.
Dr. Mutai said the drive seeks to encourage all eligible members of the target communities, staff and students to go for vaccination against COVID 19 in the quest for a strong frontline in the ongoing spirited war against the virus that has made thousands sick, dead and decimated livelihoods.
He expressed concern at the rate of carelessness at the laid down control regulations among members of the community and students noting that in order to break the chain of transmission of the virus the fight against the virus must be a duty for all.
Members of communities neighboring the institution welcomed the initiative amid calls to well-wishers and the government to consider a structured program of providing free face masks and hand washing sanitizers to low income households whose livelihoods were interrupted by the pandemic.
Nelson Wekesa observed that with the prevailing economic aftershocks of the pandemic, needy households are not able to afford face masks and sanitizers but such programs across Nakuru County`s sub counties will make prevention efforts inclusive, sustainable and effective.