The initiative which is spearheaded by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has already seen 32 counties receive the mobile clinics while 15 others are awaiting delivery/FILE
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health some 11,401 women, 9,193 children between 0-5 years and 1,577 pregnant women had been treated at the facilities.
The statistics were collected from Kwale, Kilifi, Taita-Taveta, Marsabit, Isiolo, Tharaka Nithi, Kiambu, Turkana, Samburu, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Bomet, Narok and Homabay counties.
“Some 5,984 children between 5-14 years old were served at the clinics while 1,255 adolescents between 15-24 years were also treated,” stated the report.
Some 8,397 men were also recorded as having sought medical care from the facilities the highest turnout drawn from Taita-Taveta at 3,606.
Elgeyo Marakwet recorded the lowest turnout of patients compared to other counties by recording 195 with only 2 pregnant compared to Homabay’s 413.
It was also quite interesting no men, pregnant and non-pregnant women visited the Kiambu county Beyond Zero clinic which also recorded the second lowest turn-out at 299.
The initiative which is spearheaded by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has already seen 32 counties receive the mobile clinics while 15 others are awaiting delivery.
The 15 include, Busia, Embu, Garissa, Kirinyaga, Lamu, Mandera, Migori, Murang’a, Nairobi, Nandi, Nyamira, Nyandarua, Tana River, Trans Nzoia and Vihiga counties.
The Beyond Zero campaign was aimed at accelerating the implementation of the national plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children and promoting maternal, newborn and child health in Kenya.
In the past maternal healthcare has not been given much consideration and with the new system of devolved government, there was hope that those particularly in the rural areas would access such services, but with the challenges faced by county governments this was yet to happen.
But besides giving counties the mobile clinics, the Beyond Zero campaign has helped create awareness on the importance of seeking medical care through pregnancy, delivering in hospital or under the care of a trained midwife and also ensuring baby’s growth rate is monitored to reduce maternal and child mortality.
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