More than 800 people in Ilbisil and neighboring towns, Kajiado County on Friday received free medical treatment organized by the County Government of Kajiado in partnership with Rotary Club of Nairobi East and Rotary Club of Milimani.
The county governor’s wife Edna Lenku who is also the patron of Linda Mama initiative lauded the exercise terming it as ‘favour’ for the people of Ilbissil to get a chance to seek medical help as well as undergo a full medical checkup for free.
“It is important that at times we carry out such events in areas like this because most of these people who live in interior places never get a chance to visit hospitals due poverty,” said Mrs. Lenku,” she added.
However, she noted that the exercise focused on supporting the government in delivering universal healthcare to people who are in need and therefore called for more support from corporate and private entities.
“The government cannot do much for now that is why we are calling the public-private partnership to continue organizing such camps frequently in order to provide medical services to residents who do not have access to health services,” said the governor’s wife.
She also urged residents to take charge of their health by going for frequent checkups, adding that people had been diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes yet they had not been aware they were sick.
“Through the medical camp there are serious health issues that have been referred to different hospitals for specialized medical attention,” she added.
Nairobi East Rotary President Tito Tadeu said the organization is a collective initiative by people with different professions who have a heart to help and serve humanity.
He said their efforts is focused in reaching out to the most vulnerable people in the society where the Rotarians have carried out various projects in the line of education, donating books, water tanks among others in Kajiado Central.
“This time we wanted to do it differently, that’s why we opted to go for a medical outreach camp and we will have a Rotary Club in this area so that we can be able to incorporate even the local people and other corporations,” Tadeu said.
The event was held at Ilbisil Secondary school grounds in Kajiado Central Constituency. Residents who benefited in the exercise praised the initiative and the county government for taking the lead in ensuring their health was well taken care of.
Some of the medical checkups that the locals benefitted from include screening of cervical cancer, nutrition, malaria, blood pressure, maternal health, dentistry services, VCT services and prescription of drugs to those found ill.
The government of Kenya has since made progress under the big four agenda plan to deliver affordable health services to all, where on December 13th last year where the President officially launched the Universal Health Care (UHC) pilot programme in Kisumu County, as part of the Sh3.9 billion that targets four counties.
Other counties in the pilot are Machakos, Isiolo and Nyeri where at least sh3.2 million residents are expected to benefit from the trial project.
By Nelly Kosgey and Albert Lemomo
