M-PESA Foundation-funded medical camps kick off in Lamu
About 60,000 people across Kenya are set to benefit from M-PESA Foundation-funded medical camps starting with Lamu County this week.
The Kes46 million investment is expected to help provide target population with health-related information and medical equipment. Thousands of people will also be getting drugs for general healthcare. The screening of select noncommunicable diseases, dental care, eye care and management of diabetes and hypertension are also included.
The first camp will be launched in Lamu County where the M-PESA Foundation has invested Kes1.7 million in drugs and surgical equipment to support the devolved unit’s healthcare system.
“The programme we are launching today complements other landmark initiatives that we have rolled out in collaboration with various counties in a bid to address healthcare challenges. At the same time, we are looking to improve our approaches in order to reach as many people as possible. The medical camps are therefore an avenue to ensure better healthcare outcomes for local communities,” said Stephen Kiptinness, Chief Corporate Affairs, Safaricom.
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Some of the flagship health projects under M-PESA Foundation are: Daktari Smart, a telemedicine project in collaboration with Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation.
It provides specialist care to Kenyans, who are in hard-to-reach and underserved areas in Lamu, Homa Bay, Baringo and Samburu counties. The Kes168 million programme 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 over 90,000 people in Homa Bay County. M-PESA Foundation, in conjunction with Flying Doctors, has a fistula programme that has seen over 400 women receive surgery and treatment since 2021.
This week also, Safaricom Foundation launched the renovated Kiwayu Dispensary in Lamu, at a cost of Kes2 million to further improve access to health services for the community.
