First lady Margaret Kenyatta gives Sh15m mobile clinic

First lady Margaret Kenyatta yesterday gave the county a Sh15 million fully equipped mobile clinic donated by Tullow Oil Company.

Speaking at the hand-over ceremony at Moi Gardens in Lodwar, the First Lady said the mobile clinic would go a long way in ensuring women and children got proper, accessible health care.

She said the Beyond Zero Campaign aimed to ensured quality health care was accessible to every person no matter where they came from.

"This is part of the initiative to ensure that proper health reaches those people at the grassroots. Soon, we will have a country where expectant mothers and children can enjoy access to quality health services," she said.

NEW BEGINNING

Mrs Kenyatta said the HIV and Aids statistics in Turkana indicated more than 45,000 people were currently living with the virus and said efforts needed to be made to reduce future infections and deaths.

Speaking when he received the mobile clinic, Governor Josphat Nanok said the clinic would especially help those residents who lived far from Lodwar and were unable to access medical attention.

"The county government will ensure this mobile clinic is well equipped and maintained so that it provides services for our people," he said.

Health Executive Jane Ajele expressed joy over the first ever mobile clinic in the county, which she said symbolised a new beginning for residents.

"I am happy that our people can now get proper health care even as we continue with efforts to build dispensaries in their villages," she said.

Tullow Senior Social Performance Advisor, Dana Cartwright, said the mobile clinic donation was part of the company's Sh100 million contribution to the First Lady's Beyond Zero campaign, which will see seven mobile clinics distributed to seven counties.