Majoge Bassi ward residents in Bomachoge Chache Constituency of Kisii County had a reason to smile after benefiting from a free medical camp courtesy of stakeholder’s initiative.
Kisii Nominated Member of County Assembly (MCA) Ms. Lilian Gor, Kenya National Congress Party (KNC), a local community-based organisation (USTAWi), and Oasis Health Hospital led the residents at Nyamasebe village to undergo free screening, medication, and counselling sessions.
During the event, Gor revealed that over 150 people turned up for the exercise.
Those screened for chronic and other common ailments received medical attention and promised to enjoy the services in the future as follow-ups to the medical camp.
Gor reminded the residents to observe this month’s 15 days of activism by women in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV), as a sensitisation campaign will be done to create public awareness.
She petitioned the two levels of government to ensure the Universal Health Coverage programme was actualised by fast-tracking SHA’s implementation.
According to Gor, the community health volunteers (CHV) experienced financial challenges in the delivery of their mandate after their stipends were delayed.
The two levels of government committed to release 50% each towards the monthly allowances for the CHVs.
She called for proper budgeting by the national and county governments to avert the inconveniences affecting the health programme.
Isabella Oigara, another nominated MCA, cautioned the residents to protect the girl child during the end-of-year holidays from female genital mutilation (FGM).
A healthy Counselor from Oasis Hospital, Edward Onkundi, decried the increasing cases of suicide and attributed them to depression from hard economic times, among others.
An assessment will be conducted to identify those hit by the stress with a view to counselling them, he added.
The counsellor observed men were more susceptible to the mental health condition than women but did not disclose the source of the statistics.
Residents Annah Nyoteyo and Robert Mogire thanked the medical camp’s organisers, expressing satisfaction with the services offered.
By Jane Naitore
