New Children Arrive as Covid Strikes

Over the past month, we have had an unusually high number of children – six – moving into our children’s village, perhaps as a result of the increasing strain on the Welfare system. These children have typically already been processed by the authorities and therefore spend only a few weeks at the Reception Home in Dar es Salaam before moving to the village in Mkuranga. As an extra precaution against Covid transmission, we have stopped sending children with a mama by bus to the village; instead, we collect them in the Village’s van. Our latest arrivals are three-month-old twins whose mother recently died. They came to us earlier this week. Both are being looked after by the same mama.

Last week a two-year-old girl joined us from an orphanage that only looks after babies and tries to find more permanent homes for their children when they grow older. We are delighted to welcome her with unconditional love and a promise that she will stay with us until she is well educated and in a good job.

Earlier this month we were joined by a brother and sister who had been abandoned, first by their parents and then by their grandmother. Despite what must have been a very traumatic time for them, they are academically gifted and we are delighted that the fee-paying, English speaking primary school next door to the village has agreed to accept them in years 4 and 5. And lastly, we have taken in a child whose mother is mentally ill and unable to look after him properly. His teachers were concerned for his safety and contacted the Welfare Department, who in turn contacted us.

All these children are settling in well at the village where we now have 78 children, almost an all-time record! Covid Update Sadly, I must tell you that we have seen our first cases of Covid in Malaika Kids. Over the past month, two older children and three members of staff have caught the virus. Four have been able to isolate and remain either at the Reception Home in Dar es Salaam or in their own homes; they are now all well on the road to a complete recovery. The fifth however was admitted to hospital for one week where oxygen was administered; she is now also at home, but her recovery is likely to be slow. All these cases were in Dar es Salaam; as yet there are no reported cases at the Children’s Village in Mkuranga. We continue to socially distance and wear masks in indoor settings but unfortunately, the population at large does not always adhere to mask-wearing. It is clear that large, concentrated population centres are much more at risk than out in the country. On the bright side, the government has now started offering free vaccines to those most at risk. One of our older mothers has already received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. This is a difficult time for everyone in Tanzania and we are so grateful to our dedicated staff and you, <<First Name>>, without whom none of our care would be possible.

With best wishes

Alan Edwards Malaika Kids UK Chair

New Children Arrive as Covid Strikes

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