A Sh46 million healthcare initiative to benefit more than 60,000 Kenyans has been launched in Lamu.
The initiative which was launched in Lamu Island on Monday is funded by M-Pesa Foundation in partnership with counties.
Under the initiative, Kenyans will benefit from free medical camps which will entail provision of health information, provision of medical equipment and drugs for general healthcare. Others are screening of select non-communicable diseases, dental care, eye care and management of diabetes and hypertension.
The first medical camp took place on the launch day. More than 1,000 Lamu residents were treated for various ailments at King Fahd County Referral Hospital.
Similar camps are going on at the Mpeketoni and Faza subcounty hospitals in Lamu.
The M-Pesa Foundation has injected Sh1.7 million for acquisition of drugs and surgical equipment to support provision of healthcare.
M-Pesa Foundation chairperson Nicholas Nganga said the programme complements other landmark initiatives that the foundation has rolled out in collaboration with counties to address healthcare challenges.
“We are also looking to improve our approaches to reach as many people as possible. The medical camps are, therefore, an avenue to ensure better healthcare outcomes for local communities,” Nganga said.
Some of the flagship health projects under M-Pesa Foundation include the Daktari Smart, which is a telemedicine project in collaboration with Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation.
Daktari Smart provides specialist care to Kenyans who are in hard-to-reach and underserved areas in Lamu, Homa Bay, Baringo and Samburu counties.
It is worth Sh168 million and has been in operation since 2021 with an objective of providing more than 32,000 children with access to specialist health services.
The foundation also has a reproductive health programme known as Uzazi Salama, which is set to benefit more than 90,000 people in Homa Bay county.
The M-Pesa Foundation in conjunction with Flying Doctors is equally running an active fistula programme in which at least 400 women have received surgery and treatment since 2021.
Last week, the Safaricom Foundation launched the renovated Kiwayu Dispensary in Lamu at a cost of Sh2 million to further improve access to health services for the community.
Speaking at the event, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy termed the initiative timely, saying it will boost healthcare service.
Timamy said as part of its health agenda, the county government is committed to improving the general access to healthcare, and utilisation of health services.
