APHIA-plus has donated mattresses to 839 orphaned and vulnerable children in Lugari. The donation was done through Mkombozi, a community based organisation.

CBO's chief executive Hellen Wawire said majority of orphaned children in the area sleep under deplorable conditions. From surveys carried out by her organisation, she revealed, most children slept under gunny bags, others on bare floors while others slept on improvised mattresses from dried grass.

She said the adverse conditions affect the children's concentration in school. She asked the care-givers to use the mattresses well.

"We are going to carry out random checks to ensure the children are well taken care of," she said pledging that in the next phase would involve distribution of blankets.

Wawire commented APHIA-plus for its assistance adding that her support in promoting child welfare cannot be underestimated. Her sentiments were underlined by Dickson Wasilwa, chair primary schools parents association who said majority of the children had failed to concentrate on studies as a result of lack of enough sleep.