By Andrew Kaufa, smm
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| AMECEA Secretary GeneralRev. Fr Anthony Makunde |
AMECEA Secretary General Rev. Fr Anthony Makunde has advised all members of staff at the Secretariat to suspend all activities that involve international traveling and to avoid using public means of transport where possible, urging them to work from home. This he announced during the Staff’s morning prayers on Monday March 16, 2020.
This development follows President Uhuru Kenyatta directive of March 15th2020 that everyone takes seriously the preventative measures announced by the Government’s Ministry of Health after confirmation of some Covid-19 cases in Nairobi, Kenya.
“At the AMECEA Secretariat the management received with seriousness the call of President Uhuru Kenyatta to all people in Kenya to stand alert because the virus has already entered the country. Prudent indoor measures have been taken to ensure that the AMECEA Staff and all visitors to the Secretariat are safe and they play their role in preventing further spread of the virus,” Fr Makunde said.
“On this note, sanitizers have been put in all entry places including in the office and chapel, plus precaution measures in receiving visitors and keeping distance when people are together,” he continued adding that “Each department must come up with a monthly action plan with specific assignment to each. The Coordinators of departments will be managing the system by the use of internet. Few who find it necessary to visit their offices can do that in a private way and always maintaining the required hygiene standard and a social distance.”
Addressing the nation on Sunday evening March 15, 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta suspended any in-travel of people from countries with cases of Coronavirus saying, “Only Kenyan citizens and foreign residents with valid visas are allowed into Kenya for the next 30 days; all persons who got into Kenya in the past 14 days must self quarantine. If any have symptoms, they should go to hospital.”
President Kenyatta further said, “Citizens are encouraged to avoid congregating in crowded places, wedding funerals, churches, shopping malls, entertainment premises, public transportation, and to limit visitors to hospitals.”
Being a regional office, most of the activities in the departments of AMECEA Secretariat involve international travelling and coordination. Thus, the Secretary General has insisted that it is important that all staff do anything possible for themselves and their stakeholders to remain safe from the Coronavirus, while at the same time fulfilling their duties.
“With this in mind, and urge all members of staff to arrange with their respective heads of departments on the best modalities of them working from home until further notice, with exception of those in essential duties,” he said.
During the past week, almost all member Conferences in AMECEA region have issued directives or statement to the Catholic community and all people of good will in their respective countries to actively respond to the call of world leaders and medical professionals in preventing the virus to further spread. These include Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.
AMECEA bishops have also called on all the people to join the Holy Father Pope Francis in constant prayer so that God our creator may have mercy on us. Instructions have been given on how the clergy will administer Sacraments and particularly in distribution of Holy Communion in a manner that will keep the sacredness of the Sacraments but also avoid any danger of transmitting the virus.
The AMECEA bishops have called on the Catholic faithful in their respective countries to abide to the instructions and directives given by their respective government and Ministry of Health professionals including hygiene and maintenance of social distance.
“We call upon AMECEA Secretariat staff and all our stakeholders in the member Conferences to join the entire family of God to raise up our prayers to God so that he may intervene in this confusing situation,” appeals Fr Makunde.
Meanwhile, President Uhuru Kenyatta has declared Saturday March 21, 2020 national day of prayer over the Coronavirus pandemic.
“In consideration of the protocols that we announced on Sunday and other ongoing protocols that will be announced from time to time, I have thought it necessary that this day of prayer be observed in our homes, in our places of work or wherever we shall be residing on that day,”
“This prayer day will be led by a team of religious leaders here at the State House, Nairobi, starting at 12:00 noon.” President Uhuru announced on Tuesday March 17, 2020 and appealed to media houses to broadcast the event live.