More than 13,000 residents in far-flung areas of Kitui county have received free medical care since last week in a county outreach programme.
Nurses have been on a three-month strike since June 5 and hospital care has been difficult to access.
The Kitui Government Mobile Medical Outreach Services was launched two weeks ago by Governor Charity Ngilu, a few days after she was sworn in.
The programme is jointly sponsored by JHPIEGO through its APHIAplus KAMILI project.
County Director of Health Dr Evans Mumo said the outreach programme offers free health care services, including immunisation, family planning, antenatal care, screening and laboratory services.
The nurses’ strike led to a health crisis in the county as infants could not get their immunisations and pregnant women their antenatal care, he said.
Mumo said residents also continue to suffer from treatable ailments and lack of timely management of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
So far, the medical outreach services have reached 10 wards where more than 45 centres have been visited, he said.
“The activities have been taking place daily in Mwingi North, Mwingi Central, Mwingi West, Kitui East and Kitui South using three mobile vans from the County Government of Kitui and two mobile vans from APHIAplus KAMILI spread in two wards in every subcounty,” Mumo said.
