First Lady Margaret Kenyatta on Tuesday exuded confidence that business and tourism in Lamu county are on the recovery path from the past wave of terrorism and violence.
Margaret was in the county to hand over the 40th fully kitted Beyond Zero mobile clinic to residents.
She commended residents for the unity of purpose they demonstrated in the wake of the insecurity challenges that hit the region in 2014.
A wave of terror-related, and violent incidents that culminated in the Mpeketoni killings two years ago hit world headlines, threatening business and tourist operations
in Lamu.
This insecurity challenge, Margaret said, kept many people from venturing in Lamu, either for business or leisure, yet the county largely depends on earnings from tourism.
She said the return of security in the area was not only good news to the county but the whole country which to a large extent depends on tourism.
The mobile clinic, sponsored by Britam, was received by area Govenor Issa Timamy at the Mokowe Secondary School grounds.
The First Lady promised to work with the county government to raise money to buy a boat ambulance to serve the several islands that are part of Lamu County and where large populations of people live.
She said her contribution to Kenya was by seeking greater investment in healthcare, particularly for mothers and children.
“I truly believe that health is the bedrock of everything good we want to see in this county, and in our country—economic growth, peace, unity and security”, she said.
The First Lady recognised efforts by the Lamu County Government to liberalise healthcare services for the local people including maternal care, and HIV and Aids.
She also praised the upgrading of the maternity wings in some hospitals in the county, which includes fully equipped theatres, newborn units and ultrasound rooms.
Margaret lauded the ongoing construction, renovation and refurbishing of more health centres across the county and the special attention given to the shortage of medicines, beds and staff.
She thanked the county First Lady Hajara El-Busaidy for the diverse and innovative investments in health and being a strong supporter of health initiatives in the county.
On the Beyond Zero’s three year journey, Margaret said she was particularly humbled by the massive support she has received from Kenyans of all walks of life including individual donors, corporates and other philanthropists.
Lamu now joins 39 other counties that have so far received the mobile clinics that supplement
other government initiatives.
The mobile clinics also serve as immunisation centres for children, besides providing emergency delivery services for mothers.
HIV/Aids testing and minor surgical operations are also available at the mobile clinics.
“This clinic really attests to the goodwill that we, as citizens, have towards one another. That goodwill needs to be seen more and more across this country," she said.
She said the clinic should help to cultivate unity among the people of Lamu.
Governor Timamy, County Commissioner Joseph Kanyiri, Health PS Nicholas Muraguri, and Muthoga Ngera, Britam’s director for marketing and corporate affairs, accompanied the First Lady.