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Kenya

Safaricom gives Sh10m for free medicare

NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 7 – The Safaricom Foundation has unveiled a Sh10.8 million free medical campaign that will see more Kenyans access free and quality medical care.

The Foundation Trustee Joseph Ogutu said on Saturday that the campaign was informed by the fact that most Kenyans cannot access quality healthcare because of high poverty levels, prohibitive costs and in some instances lack of medical facilities.

"It therefore behoves all stakeholders in the social system, including MPs, and private corporations to play a significant role in bridging the obvious gap that exists in the healthcare system, to ensure our people get access to quality and affordable medical services," he said.

The Foundation has partnered with the Diabetes Management and Information Centre (DMI), the government and various MPs from across the country to achieve their objective.

The campaign will see the Foundation and its partners hold 18 free medical camps in different parts of the country, the first one being in Sabatia Constituency this weekend. Mr Ogutu urged Kenyans to take advantage of the offer.

He however appealed to the government to crackdown on unqualified physicians who have infiltrated to the country’s health sector, posing health risks.

"The quest for quality healthcare is pushing our people especially in slum areas to seek medication from dispensaries or chemists which are being run by unqualified personnel. The government needs to intervene," he noted.

The Safaricom Foundation has also donated Sh10 million to the Kenya Red Cross Society for the provision of food for people facing hunger and famine in the country.

Mr Ogutu appealed to the government and World Food Programme (WFP) to consider reintroducing the school feeding programme in primary schools situated in famine-stricken areas.

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While calling for a longer term and sustainable response to the perennial famine situation in Kenya, he also encouraged more corporate organisations to support the Safaricom initiative, which he said would encourage children to continue learning.

The Trustee assured that the Safaricom Foundation would continuously spread its wings in the society by providing assistance that will bridge the digital divide, provide access to educational and learning facilities, provide clean water and sanitation, improve primary healthcare and contribute towards environmental conservation.

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