Over 4,000 people benefited from medical services offered during the inaugural Beyond Zero Medical Safari held in Narok County between 10th and 13th September 2018.
The medical safari, launched by Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta the First of the Republic of Kenya is part of the Beyond Zero Initiative that will have various medical specialists providing screening, treatment and referral services in different counties across the country.
Some of the services offered were fistula repair, screening for cervical, breast and prostate cancer, eye care clinic for elderly persons, screening of heart diseases in children, and assessment and registration for children with disabilities.
Speaking in Narok County when she launched the inaugural Beyond Zero Medical Safari, the First Lady said the these will be regionally scaled up to the remaining counties.
“Non-communicable diseases are on the rise and are quickly becoming a major public health concern, with weighty social and economic implications. Not only are they putting strains on family budgets, contributing to widespread poverty, they contribute to loss in productivity and premature death. With the launch of Beyond Zero Medical Safaris, our aim is to help provide screening, diagnosis and early treatment of such illnesses,” said the First Lady.
During the Medical Safaris, Beyond Zero will rally support from medical practitioners and suppliers to provide support to health promotion and attend to the patients’ needs.
“Access to quality healthcare is the foundation of sustainable social and economic development of any nation. In order for Kenya to achieve Universal Healthcare Access under the Big Four Agenda, we all need to play our roles,” the First Lady added.
The free medical camps are an extension of the Beyond Zero Initiative and are in support of the government’s Universal Health Coverage vision.
Other services offered during the medical safari included; screening for diabetes and hypertension, HIV counseling and testing, immunization, checkup for pregnant mothers, Linda Mama registration for all pregnant mothers, and NHIF super cover membership registration.
Some of the partners were Ministry of Health, Narok County Government, Philips, NHIF, Women 4 Cancer, City Eye Hospital, Fistula Foundation, Beth Mugo Cancer Foundation, Cure Kenya, Linda Mama, Amref Health Africa and UNFPA among others.
During the medical safari, 67 of 299 suspected fistula cases were confirmed and repaired. Over 200 children with disabilities who were in need of early intervention strategies such as surgery or assistive devices were attended to. Close to 150 pregnant women received ante natal check up while over 700 people received eye check up and refractive errors corrected, with 24 of them undergoing cataract operation.
Through the first phase of Beyond Zero, 47 mobile clinics were delivered and donated to all the 47 counties in Kenya. The mobile clinics complement government outreach programs.
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Launched in January 2014 by Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta the First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, Beyond Zero was inspired by the realization and knowledge that maternal and children deaths are preventable.
Beyond Zero aims to contribute to the acceleration of economic and social development in Kenya: where there are no preventable deaths of mothers and children; and where there are no social inequalities for essential health services.