When the former First Lady Margaret Kenyatta launched the Beyond Zero mobile Clinic in 2015 in West Pokot County, residents had high hopes that health would be improved in remote far-flung areas.
However, this came to pass with little impact on the ground after the mobile clinic vehicle was grounded, hence health services stopped due to poor management by the former regime.
However, the West Pokot County Government has revived the program.
West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin says that the initiative will improve health services, prevent illness and reduce deaths along County borders and interior places in the semi-arid area.
“People removed spare parts from the vehicles. It has not even gone more than 7000 and it was grounded purposely. Now it is other and working,” said Kachapin.
The County boss says that the fully kitted mobile clinic will improve access to medical services for children and women and reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in the region.
For a long period of time, residents living in semi-arid, remote areas in the County have been depending on medical camps, most of them opting to sell their livestock to access medical services.
Some always opt to use traditional herbs because most patients from the region suffer from Malaria during rainy seasons.
Expectant women are normally assisted by midwives in villages who are not qualified.
Survivors of bandit attacks have been suffering because of the lack of health facilities in the region but now things have changed.
West Pokot County was one of the marginalized regions by previous regimes before devolution and residents used to walk for over 50km to dispensaries in search of medical attention.
Health facilities in the regions are sparsely placed and many were suffering from many diseases leading to an increase in the mortality rate of young ones.
At the moment, the county has a total of only 150 health facilities serving a population of more than 500,000 residents.
“We aim to improve health in places that were most affected like North and Central Pokot Sub Counties. At one visit so many health activities go on and this include antenatal care, specialized care like having a mobile ultrasound where a risk pregnancy can be detected and referred early, they offer immunization, growth monitoring, health education, treatment of minor ailments such as diarrhoea, upper respiratory tract infection and dispense drugs,” said Kachapin.
Speaking on Sunday in Kapenguria, Kachapin said the mobile clinic has been fully reequipped and has adequate health personnel, drugs.
“This is a moving hospital and whenever it comes to your area come out in large numbers and get treatment. The reason for this mobile vehicle is to help mothers and their children get treatment,” said Mr Kachapin.
He said the beyond zero will help reduce referral cases to Moi teaching and referral to Eldoret Hospital.
“If Kapenguria referral hospital can be upgraded to level 6 then it will reduce maternal deaths. We are also requesting for another beyond-zero van from the current regime because the county is vast,” he said.
He said the mobile clinic will help residents along the West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet border where pneumonia is common because the area is cold.
He said the mobile clinic will bring services closer to people.
“Women have been empowered and the girl child through education and bringing up healthy mothers who can raise their families. Indicators of family planning have gone up and women have been sensitized on the importance of giving birth in hospitals, hence improved antennal clinics,” he said.
Mr Kachapin cited that signs of diseases can be easily identified and many outreaches are conducted in far-reaching areas.
West Pokot Health County executive member Clare Parklea said the county government has allocated the lion’s share of the budget to the health department which has been experiencing a lot of challenges.
“We have invested heavily in the health sector so as to improve health in the area. We have been facing many problems in health but now everything will be possible,” said Ms Parklea.
She said that the county has put efforts in remote villages in dire need of medical care by constructing and deploying more nurses.
“We have constructed dispensaries in every location to boost health care,” said Ms Parklea.
She said that the county has doubled the number of dispensaries in the entire county and the county is set to construct more so as to meet the international standards of a radius of 5 km.
“We now have more new dispensaries,” he said.
Join our community and solve the Puzzling fun with our range of crosswords
We are building some fun puzzles to put your problem-solving skills to the test and we want you to have a blast while you're at it!
Share your email and we’ll serve up new puzzles with your morning coffee.
Do you want to help shape the features we prioritize? Take a Survey to help us understand what matters to you most
Begin SurveyAM Live is NTV's morning current affairs show that sets the agenda for the day with insightful panels every weekday.
Business Redefined is Kenya’s premier thought leadership platform for unpacking matters regarding economic and finance policy as well demystifying complex developments in the region’s capital markets.
This is Daily Politics. Here we look into the ins and outs of everything Kenyan politics. We pull no punches and have no reason to sugarcoat anything that matters to Kenyans.
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Gumzo La Sato is a live social issues show that aims to create awareness about issues affecting the larger society. The discussions range from Parenting, Marital bliss and struggles, Oppression, violence, and all matters of the Heart.
Health Diary is a weekly show that highlights different types of diseases/conditions and seeks ways to prevent, treat/manage them. The show debunks this through real life stories and also feature specialists in different fields, to offer medical advice on the same.
Letter To My Younger Self is a podcast where guests get to write a letter to their younger self, from which Maxine formulates questions to ask them during the hour-long show.
Nation Reports is a weekly podcast offers an opportunity for listeners to interact with various reporters and journey with them as they unravel the biggest most emotive stories.
Paradise Lost peeks through the story of Louis Otieno, the times, and everything in between.
Speaking of Gen Z brings you entertaining but meaningful conversations about a generation that is trying to navigate through adulthood. Join hosts Michelle, Jackie and Esther as they unravel all things Gen Z.
Sport-On is a 30-minute sports magazine show on NTV and 3 hours on NATION FM. The show seeks to give the sports “fanatics” and “funatics” comprehensive and in-depth coverage of sports both locally and internationally.
Thamani is a business show which is dedicated to emerging issues regarding micro, small and medium size businesses.
A two-hour-long live show that airs on Fridays. The show focuses on what is current in the entertainment industry, controversial and popular across all media platforms targeting those aged between 25 and 35 years.
The trend podcast highlights and captures the best of banter from #TTTT segment that airs every Friday on NTV. It's the TTTT EXTRA
The Wicked Edition with Dr. King’ori seeks to address serious issues through humour and relatable wit. It is a two-part half hour show filmed in front of a live audience
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Twende is a travel show that highlights beautiful, unique, diverse locations, people, and cultures. The show offers fresh perspectives on familiar locations and memorable experiences in new ones.
This Saturday evening lifestyle show lets viewers share their stories and life experiences as openly & honestly for the purpose of shifting the culture of silence.
VIP ACCESS is Anyiko Owoko’s YouTube and podcast show on Music and Culture dedicated to promoting Africa’s most promising talent and creatives. This podcast grants you VIP access into timeless interviews while providing a platform for rising as well as established artists across the continent. Since launching in 2018, Anyiko has interviewed over 70 African music stars.
This weekly news show aims to have all sides of debate but not be constrained by it, listen to main voices in the contest but not allow them to hold the viewers hostage, entertain debate but allow push back with all due respect.
In this podcast, three widowers openly speak about the process of grief, how they found themselves exposed to the emotional turmoil of losing their wives, and how society still does not know how to deal with them.
Your World is a health, wellness and variety show. It provides a platform for audiences and experts to share their experiences on how to improve or manage health issues, across Kenya and the Africa region.
