The Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt on Thursday donated an additional fully-kitted mobile Clinic to the Beyond Zero campaign as more sponsors pooled another Sh3.3 million to the initiative.
First Lady Margaret Kenyatta thanked the Egyptian government saying she does not take for granted support she has received from various stakeholders over the last three years since the initiative was launched.
"Beyond Zero does not take it for granted. Kenya does not take this support for granted," she said as she received the mobile clinic and additional funds at State House, Nairobi.
The clinic was presented by Egyptian Ambassador to Kenya Madmoud Ali Talaat and Ambassador Hazem Fahmy, the Secretary General of the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD).
The envoys were accompanied
by Dina Mahmoud who is the Second Secretary at the Egyptian Embassy.
Margaret said more clinics are still needed especially in vast counties with large hard-to-reach populations.
"The work these clinics are doing is fantastic," she said.
The First Lady underlined the need to refurbish the existing health facilities as an ongoing priority of the campaign working closely with the County First Ladies.
“It is the little things that we do for our people that matter," she said.
Talaat said his government is committed to work with both the First Lady and President Uhuru Kenyatta whom he described as “humble, down to earth and doing a lot for this country”.
The Ambassador said the First Lady was not only an inspiration to Kenyans but also the Egyptians.
On his part, Hazem said Kenya holds a strategic position in Africa and Egypt wants to continue working with it.
He praised the First Lady for coming up with the Beyond Zero campaign adding there is nothing more noble than “changing the lives of mothers and children”, which are the keystones of the initiative.
The partners and sponsors who presented the Sh2.3 million kitty included the Eldad Women Group who gave a cheque donation of Sh1 million.
The group comprises 25 women who are involved in various initiatives in their respective rural areas all aimed at assisting people.
An additional Sh2.3 million was presented by 10 organisations grouped under Kenya Health Leaders Forum all focusing on various health initiatives including HIV and Aids, Paediatrics and maternal health.
The funds will be utilized by the Beyond Zero Secretariat for its back end support to the initiative.
The 10 sponsors were the Population Health Services (PS Kenya), Intra-Health, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation, Clinton Access Initiative, Amref, Shops /Abt Associates, and John Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynaecology and Obstetrics.
Others were Centre for Health Solutions and the Christian Health Association of Kenya and the
LVCT Health.
Chief executive officer for PS Kenya Anthony Okoth who represented the 10 organisations said the NGOs involved in health matters look forward to continued engagement with the Beyond Zero.