Over 3,000 residents in Migori County are targeted to receive free specialised healthcare services through a medical camp organised by the M-Pesa and Safaricom Foundations.
M-Pesa and Safaricom Foundations Program Manager, Ms. Sophie Onyango, said that the drive, dubbed the Sustaining Care Beyond the Camp initiative, marks a major milestone in providing free and affordable medical checkups for county residents.
According to Ms. Onyango, the free medical camp at Kadika Comprehensive School in Suna East Sub-county will offer Level 4 medical services, with a primary focus on screening and free surgery for cleft lip, palate, and obstetric fistula.
“We conduct cleft-lip and palate screening and conduct surgery for the kids to bring back their smile,” she noted.
The official explained that the free screening and surgery care goes beyond treatment to ensure care is given for patients’ full recovery.
“Any patient with chronic conditions that require specialised treatment will be taken care of by the Foundation for three months,” affirmed Ms. Onyango.
She added that every citizen has a right to access good healthcare, and through M-pesa Foundation, they were determined to transform lives and ensure that people receive the care they deserve.
The initiative provided timely relief to local residents, following a recent strike of nurses that had paralyzed healthcare services in public hospitals.
Migori County Executive Committee Member (CECM)-In-Charge of Medical Services, Caleb Opondi, highlighted that the camp came at a vital time, noting that patients across the County had been suffering at home due to an ongoing nurses’ strike.
Opondi disclosed that all the referrals from the free medical camp will be directed to the Migori County Referral Hospitals for specialised treatment.
He explained that the County is actively partnering with like-minded stakeholders like Safaricom and M-Pesa Foundation to ensure seamless continuity of healthcare services for the county residents.
Migori Deputy Governor, Joseph Mahiri, expressed gratitude to the M-Pesa Foundation for bringing healthcare services closer to the people, commending the strong partnership with the county government in fulfilling their shared mandate to serve the public.
The M-Pesa and Safaricom Foundations also visited the Mother and Child Unit at the Migori County Referral Hospital and the Ombo Mission Hospital and gave out gifts to new mothers.
By Iventer Nyawanda and Beryl Akinyi
