Covid-19: Govt cites an Islamic Hadith to calm down Eastleigh, Old Town residents

The government has now taken the religious route to calm down residents of Eastleigh and Old Town areas in Nairobi and Mombasa who have been angered by the decision to ban movement in and out of the two regions amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

The Chief Administrative Secretary in the Health Ministry, Dr. Rashid Aman on Thursday quoted a Hadith (narration) on how Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) dealt with pandemics during his time.

“Prophet Muhammad said, If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; but if the plague breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place,” said Dr. Aman.

He added that the narration by Prophet Muhammad is the cardinal principal in public health control of contagious diseases.

The government placed Eastleigh and Old Town on partial lock down following the high number of coronavirus cases reported in the two areas. This would trigger angry reactions from the residents of the area some of whom claimed they were being discriminated.

Dr. Aman has, however, urged the residents of the two regions to follow the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health saying they are basically meant to stem the spread of the virus.

“The measures put in place in these two areas are meant to prevent people from moving out and spreading the disease. Please remain within these zones that have been marked as restricted areas of movement,” appealed the Health CAS.

He said the government was aware that some of the residents in the two areas sneaked out to other neighborhoods such as South B and South C in Nairobi soon after the order was issued.

The century’s old advice from Prophet Muhammad has gained fresh impetus in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak which came as the Muslims geared up for the Holy month of Ramadan.