First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has launched the Beyond Zero Medical Safari in West Pokot. Speaking during the launch, which is set to benefit over 5,000 beneficiaries at Makutano stadium in West Pokot County, the First Lady lauded the efforts by the various partners in launching the critical documents and re-affirmed Beyond Zero’s commitment to improving healthcare.
It is aimed at providing specialized healthcare to Kenyans through free cancer and diabetes screening, treatment and referral services. The safari is now on the third leg following successful camps in Narok and Kisumu Counties, which attracted 5,000 and 6,000 beneficiaries respectively.
She also launched the first National Strategic Framework for Prevention and Management of obstetric fistula, which sets the stage for tackling Fistula. The Framework was developed by the Ministry of Health through the Reproductive and Maternal Health Services Unit (RMHSU), UNFPA and Amref Health Africa as an urgent response to the burden of obstetric fistula in the country.
The First Lady also launched a fistula training curriculum for health care workers and a training manual to screen for community health workers. It is estimated that fistula occurrence in Kenya stands at 3 to 4 women for every 1,000 deliveries, an estimated 1,000 new cases each year.
Moreover, she was impressed with the health system in the County hence applauded thousands of patients for turning out to get free medical services for three consecutive days. “Kenyans should abandon outdated cultural practices like FGM, early marriages and other practices that affect the health of mothers and girls. Everyone has the potential to achieve their dreams to quality healthcare services,” she said. She noted that its a right for every child to get better health services hence urged Counties to increase allocation in the health department.
She further launched a maternity theatre and blood bank constructed by the County government. Governor John Lonyangapuo lauded the efforts of the First Lady citing that the medical safari and Beyond Zero has reduced referral cases to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. He added that the County has signed the First Lady Implementation Fund Act that seeks to fund the County facilities with money generated from the health facilities.
Others leaders present during the medical safari launch included Health CAS Rashid Raman, West Pokot County Commissioner Apollo Okello, West Pokot MPs Samuel Moroto, Peter Lochakapong, Mark Lomunokol, Lilian Tomitom and County First Ladies from Trans Nzoia, Kakamega, Nyamira, Baringo, Nandi, Kisumu and West Pokot, who lauded the Beyond Zero campaign for reducing deaths in the country through provision of better health care services.