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First Lady calls for investment in health

Health & Science

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has called for increased investments in health services to make the sector more accessible and affordable to the public.

Mrs Kenyatta made the call yesterday when she donated a fully-equipped mobile clinic to Marsabit County.

The mobile clinic is the ninth the First Lady has donated through the Beyond Zero campaign which aims at improving healthcare in all the 47 counties.

Speaking when she presided over a handing-over ceremony in Marsabit Town together with Governor Ukur Yattani, the First Lady said progress will not be achieved in the absence of reliable health services and urged the county government to increase efforts to improve the sector.

"With our new system of government, the idea of increased investments in health is now quite possible. I, therefore, call on the county leadership to continue focusing on transforming the health sector into a more efficient, reliable, accessible and affordable quality service," she said.

TRADITIONAL PRACTICES

The First Lady also urged local leaders to educate the community to abandon traditional practices that contribute negatively to health indicators such as female genital mutilation and early marriage of girls.

She also said it is important to show care for people living with HIV/Aids and encourage them to seek treatment which will in turn contribute to health in the whole community.

The First Lady advised county administrations to promote participation of people in decision-making processes to ensure sustainability of development initiatives.

She said the devolved system of government would be embraced more when there are more avenues for people to give their views on development matters.

Mrs Kenyatta said the mobile clinic she donated will complement efforts by the county government in offering health services in the vast county. The money to buy the mobile clinic was donated to the Beyond Zero campaign by the Kenya Pipeline Company.

Yattani said the need to strengthen health services is the biggest priority for his administration.

"We have dedicated 30 per cent of our budget to improve health services this year alone," he said.

The county chief requested the First Lady to consider donating another mobile clinic to Marsabit which represents 15 per cent of Kenya's total land mass.

The event was attended by the spouses of governors of Wajir, Nyeri, Nyamira, Isiolo, Mandera, Meru and Kisii as well as the host county.

Marsabit has a population of about 300,000 people, with only 55 rural public health facilities and two hospitals.

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