On Covid-19, we are surviving by God’s mercies

Having been away on quarantine plus the headache of handling Brandon’s matters, including dealing with that fake lawyer, I did not give much attention to my school roles and responsibilities when I resumed work.

 It is only last Monday that I fully returned, in body, soul and mind. And I did not take long before I noticed the challenges affecting our school, challenges I could only see as I lack powers to take any action.

As you recall, before schools reopened, I single-handedly installed hand-washing points at strategic places around the school compound and placed sanitisers at the gate, in the staffroom and outside classrooms.

But it just took two weeks of being away for things to fall apart –  jerricans ran out of water while sanitiser bottles have not been replenished.

 Even the Thermo-gun has not been in use for such a long time. I challenged Kuya -the BBI Deputy HM – over the mess. “I see no need for the Thermo gun,” he said “That thing was configured to give some funny, programmed readings. It always reads 36.4, 35.9 or 36.6, degrees,” he said.

Temperature readings

“It is not possible that all the people would be measuring that, every time.” I wanted to argue but when I checked the book in which we had been recording the temperature readings for everyone, I was shocked to notice that 36.4, 35.9 and 36.6 degrees constituted over 96 per cent of all readings.

But that was not the main reason Kuya ordered temperature readings not to be taken. He had another reason. “Let’s imagine someone records 38 degrees, what will we do? What can we do?” He asked. “We don’t have a nurse around and we are not Covid experts, the best we can do is run away, like happened at St Theresa’s Girls.” He was referring to a case at St Theresa Girls where someone recorded 38.6 degrees. Everyone literally took off, afraid. When the case was reported at Mwisho wa Lami clinic, the nurse, who is my former student and should never be near a syringe, took a sick-off.

“We do not want to scare anyone here with such readings,” Kuya said. That was on Tuesday and we were in the staffroom.  It was lunch time and I asked Lena to help me with her sanitiser as the sanitiser bottle in the staffroom was empty.

I asked Kuya why the bottles had not been replenished.

“I would be lying to say that we can sustain replenishing sanitisers in the school,” he said. “I have seen many people wash their hands with sanitisers instead of applying on their hands, even in this staffroom. That’s not sustainable.”

“I have even seen someone use sanitiser just before eating,” said Alex. “Now what is that? That is like taking ugali with sanitiser!” He exclaimed.

Observing hygiene

Kuya concluded that it was important for everyone to find ways of observing hygiene without waiting for the school to provide water and sanitisers.

“Even if we give sanitisers here and there are none at home, or people don’t wash their hands, how will it help?” He asked.

After lunch, Sella bought some students — two boys and three girls — in the staffroom, who had not done their maths assignment.

“Can I get a good reason why you do not take my homework seriously?” An exasperated Sella asked, looking at us. I did not need a calculator to know that she just wanted us to know she can be tough.

Mrs Atika entered the staffroom just as Sella was getting louder with her empty threats. “Do you think I am the one who will be sitting KCPE exam? Do you think you will come to my home after you fail? Who do you think I am? Your mother?” She posed.

“And you, why don’t you have a mask on?” Mrs Atika asked one of the girls. Even before she answered, Mrs Atika looked at the rest and shook her head.

“Even those wearing masks, they are so dirty. They are either carrying Corona or germs,” she said. “When is the last time you washed your mask?” She asked one of the boys. The boy seemed surprised that reusable masks are washed.

She then asked the girl who did not have a mask to go get one.

“Gloria took mine,” she said, pointing at her. Gloria immediately put her hand in the pocket and removed a mask. She then removed the mask she was wearing, gave it to the girl and wore the one she got from the pocket.

“You people, masks should never be shared, you don’t know that?” Exclaimed Mrs Atika. That seemed strange to the students, who admitted to exchanging and sharing masks.

Counter-demand affidavit

Upon further checks, we realised that since most of the masks the students used were identical — they were donated by the MCA—, they are exchanged and shared around the same way books, pens and other learning resources are shared.  “Let us just thank God that Corona has not reached here,” said Mrs Atika. “If just one person gets infected, we will all get sick, particularly students.”

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Brandon Child Support Case Update: Following the counter-demand affidavit I wrote to the fake lawyer last week, I have not heard from him again. I suspect that he got scared when realised that he was dealing with a Senior Counsel.

No wonder Catherine has been looking for me, asking for a non-contested, Win-Win resolution to the matter. I have no interest in a Win-Win scenario. For I must win – out rightly!