Over 4,000 residents of Kajiado County received free health services during a three-day medical camp held at Eiti village, Kajiado Central over the weekend.
The medical camp sponsored by Spread Truth Africa, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), in conjunction with other partners witnessed a huge turn-out of residents seeking treatment for various ailments including eye infections, diabetes, hypertension, chest infections, flu among others.
According to Hamisi Kirenga, Executive Director, Spread Truth Africa, common ailments treated at the camp included cancer, tuberculosis, hyper-tension, acute malnutrition, urinary tract infections, cataract, flu, trachoma and chest infections.
Dental checkups and eye surgery, family planning services, HIV testing and counselling was also offered for free.
Kirenga revealed that cancer was common especially among the elderly and patients who tested positive after the screening were referred to various hospitals for specialized comprehensive treatment.
“We are offering free cancer screening and many patients, especially the elderly have been found to have cancer at various stages,” Kirenga said.
The health NGO Director urged residents to go for frequent cancer screening adding that cancer is easily treatable if discovered at an early stage.
Kirenga further revealed that the on-going drought in the county had resulted in hunger and acute water shortage exposing residents to health risks.
Trachoma and Urinary Tract Infections, which were common among patients, can be directly attributed to poor sanitation as a result of water shortage.
Acute malnutrition among children under the age of five, the elderly, pregnant and lactating mothers was also recorded during the medical camp.
James Saruni, a resident of Inkinye, expressed his gratitude to the organizers of the free medical camp saying that he had brought along all of his family members to be treated for free.
He said that he had lost all his livestock to the drought and he could not afford to take his family to hospital.
Saruni revealed that two of his daughters received dental checkup and treatment for malnutrition while he benefited from free eye surgery for cataract in his left eye.
Elizabeth Nasinkoi, who received free treatment for hypertension, said the free medical services were timely as many locals have been left destitute by the drought and cannot afford medical services.
Kajiado Woman Representative Leah Sankaire noted that the drought situation was getting dire and many households have been left vulnerable.
She urged more humanitarian organizations and well-wishers to chip in and assist the residents with medical care and food donations.
Sankaire further called on the County Government to equip the Kajiado Referral Hospital with adequate medical drugs to ensure that patients referred to the hospital for specialized treatment from the camp are attended to.
By Rop Janet
