Hundreds of Muhoroni residents were treated to a free medical check-up during a health outreach camp organised by the Kisumu County government in partnership with Endless Mountain Mercy Mission International (EM3).
According to organisers, the move was to bring essential medicare closer to communities, with phase two of the annual initiative set to be conducted from December 1 to 15 across all eight Sub-Counties.
During the kick-off at Muhoroni Township School, at least 300 locals benefited from services that included health consultations, cancer screening, prenatal, antenatal and child clinics, referrals, and SHA registration.
Speaking at the event, Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr Mathew Owili said the initiative reflects the county government’s commitment to strengthening community-level health care.
“We are basically reaching out to the people right in their localities to be able to help them solve some health matters within the population,” Dr Owili explained.
The Deputy Governor, however, expressed concern about the poor health-seeking behaviour among locals.
“Some individuals just fear or they don’t like to go to hospitals. This outreach programme, which is in a setting that is not in a hospital, tends to attract more people seeking medical attention.”
He encouraged locals to take advantage of the ongoing free medical camps, emphasising the importance of seeking timely healthcare to protect their well-being.
“Some people have been referred from here. There are others who are discovering for the first time that they are ill, and so, this becomes their beginning of a journey towards their well-being,” Dr Owili noted.
Kisumu County Director of Medical Services Dr. Don Sunday Ogolla stated that areas such as Muhoroni – which have previously recorded low performance in several reporting indicators – are expected to indicate improved progress through intensified outreach programmes.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, the current vaccination coverage in Muhoroni Sub-county is 74 percent against Kisumu County’s average of 82 per cent.
“The only way to increase indicator coverage percentages is by going out. We no longer wait for people to come to the facility,” Dr. Don said.
He added that this approach allows the medical team to reach patients early, before their conditions deteriorate or become difficult to manage effectively.
By Robert Ojwang’
