More than 2000 residents from Drys farm in Ainabkoi constituency, Uasin Gishu County benefited from free treatment for various ailments during a medical screening camp organized by Kenyatta University Training Referral and Research Hospital, KUTRRH at Drys Girls secondary school over the weekend.
According to KUTRRH deputy director of clinical services Dr. Kerama Onyimbo and Uasin Gishu county Director of Health Dr. Evans Kiprotich medical camps have shifted from treatment to screenings to get people in the communities who might be sick since they rarely attend health facilities for checkups.
Among the ailments targeted for screening during the medical camp were cervical cancer, prostate cancer, and non-communicable diseases such as random blood sugar tests, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Dr Onyimbo said the National Cancer Control programme donated 1000 prostate cancer screening rapid test kits and 100 speculums for cervical cancer testing free of charge.
Dr. Kiprotich said from numerous medical camp screenings done in the county, it emerged that demand for health services was huge hence the need to put in place strategies that will ensure better access to healthcare.
“We have realized there is an increase of hypertensive cases in our communities that the affected may not be aware of. Last year we only screened 4000 mothers out of a population of more than 40,000 women of reproductive age, indicating a serious gap. We have also realized that most men do not go for prostate enlargement check-ups, and will only go to the hospital when the urinary track is completely blocked,” he said.
“The issue of prostate enlargement is largely a private affair for men because of the stigma attached to it, they will only come to the hospital when they realize the urinary track is completely blocked,” he added.
The medical screening camp brought together various health stakeholders including the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union, KMPDU, Kenya Nursing Council, Kenya Medical Training College, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, MTRH, the National Cancer Control Programme and the Uasin Gishu County Government.
The camp was organized courtesy of by Prof. Olive Mugenda who is the chairperson of the Board of directors of KUTRRH, and an alumnus of AIC Drys farm Primary school.
Prof. Mugenda, one of the country’s leading academicians who also organized a funds drive officiated by Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei aimed at raising more than Sh. 30 million in aid of Drys primary school, said the gesture was a thank you gift for the region that nurtured her education base 50 years ago.
“I have returned to give back to the community who welcomed me to Drys Farm primary school when my sister and I were admitted to commence our education journey,” she said.
Sh. 20m will go towards the construction of a library and ICT centre for the primary school, while Sh. 10m will go towards renovation of classrooms and toilets for the pupils, explained the former Kenyatta University Vice-Chancellor.
Prof. Mugenda recalled with nostalgia how she and her sister were put on a train from Thogoto in Kiambu by their mother to Ainabkoi where they alighted and travelled through a forest to reach Drys farm primary school, “It was tough since we were young girls, but the reception the community and the teachers gave us ensured our stay was comfortable, that is why I have come back and with the support of friends and wellwishers I will make sure the Library cum ICT centre, and the renovation of classrooms and the toilets are completed by the end of the year,” she committed.
In his remarks, the head of public service lauded Prof. Mugenda for remembering her old school and deciding to donate to support the children and the community because she wants the best for the children and encourages them to follow in her footsteps.
“It is rare for most elites to remember let alone be associated with primary schools where the formative stages of their education was nurtured, they would rather lie and claim they went to some high-cost school somewhere,” he observed.
By Judy Too
