Sigh of relief for hundreds of patients as Rotary Club of Hurlingham holds free medical camp at Kikopey

Hundreds of patients on Saturday April 6, 2024 turned up at the Kikopey Dispensary in Gilgil Sub county of Nakuru County for free treatment during a medical camp organized by Rotary Club of Hurlingham Nairobi led by President Mejumaa Mbaruku in partnership with other well wishers.

The medical outreach came as sigh of relief to many locals who are undergoing a lot of suffering due to the ongoing stalemate between doctors and government over their renumeration and issues around medical interns.

For the residents of Kikopey and neighborhood, the medical camp was their saviour.

Margaret Wairimu- a resident of Kikopey is a beneficiary of the free medical camp.

She had eye problem and on hearing about the free medical camp, she made her way to the Kikopey Dispensary, the venue of the facility.

Speaking to press after being attended to, Wairimu expressed her joy adding that such free medical camps should be held frequently to help those who cannot afford the huge medication costs.

“I am grateful that I came here and I have been attended to. I had eye problem but I have been given some drugs and also advised on what to do moving forward,” she said.

Joseph Mwai another resident revealed that accessing health services has been a challenge in the area as they have to walk longer distance to reach facilities.

He says the situation has even worsened with the ongoing doctors’ strike urging government to expedite the agreement between doctors and the health docket to avert services being paralyzed.

“As locals we have to walk longer distance to access health services. Personally I have been to several facilities but not attended to or a times you find the drugs are not available. But we are grateful for Rotary Club of Hurlingham Nairobi for thinking about us,” he stated.

On her part Deborah Sirega- the Gilgil Sub county Team Lead for Health lauded the Rotary Club of Hurlingham Nairobi for organizing the free medical camp.

She noted that diabetic, hypertension and arthritis as well as upper respiratory tract infections as key diseases facing the locals.

According to her, many locals revealed that they were on medication but had defaulted due to longer distances and lack of finances to access the services.

She however challenged the locals to ensure regular medical checkup and screening adding that management of any disease is easier if detected earlier.

“We want to thank our partners in health docket such as Rotary Club of Hurlingham Nairobi for this gesture of free medical camp to our people. Despite the harsh economic times, we appeal to locals to ensure they go for early screening and regular medical checkups so that we can have a healthy society,” she stated.

Sentiments echoed by Mariam Mutua from St.Marys Mission Hospital who lauded the need for more partnership in ensuring that all access healthcare services.

She reiterated the need for more penetration into grassroot areas where women and children go through a lot of challenges.

Ms Mutua also called on the need for more sensitization at grassroot level so that locals can also get the right information and where to access services whenever they need.

“We know the government is playing its role, but we believe there is need for more partnership like what the Rotary Club of Hurlingham is doing and that is what will ensure everyone can access services despite the harsh economic times,” stated Mutua.

Issues of Gender Based Violence contributing to medical complications among women and children also came up during the camp, with calls on locals to ensure they report any form of GBV cases so that they can be addressed and perpetrators prosecuted.

Mary Njoki- a counseling Psychologist at Usikimye Organization noted that issues of GBV can lead to medical complications and physical injuries.

She was however quick to note that through vigorous sensitization, members of public can help end such through sharing crucial information whenever they encounter such cases.

“We have continue to sensitize our people on what to do on matters GBV so that we can have a safer society,” stated Njoki.

The one-day camp saw hundreds of patients attended to by a team of specialist doctors and nurses who offered a wide range of treatments.

Rotary Club of Hurlingham Nairobi President Mejumaa Mbaruku who graced the event reiterated the Club’s commitment towards the noble cause of alleviating the suffering of many patients unable to access treatment due financial constraints.

She added that the club in partnership with county government has continued to ensure sustainability structures in place with annual free medical camp aimed to assist the Kikopey community.

“We have mechanisms in place to ensure that those who have received treatment and drugs here and would need further lab assistance and specialized treatments, then the Gilgil Sub county facility is working with this dispensary. But we also look on how we can assist in terms of further treatment more so for special cases,” she said.

The initiative has seen the facility attend to over 2000 patients a month which is a plus to the Rotary Club of Hurlingham’s focus on disease prevention.

While noting the increase in the population of the area, Rotary Club of Hurlingham has embarked on the upgrade of the facility through partnership of Rotary Foundation, donors and other well wishers.

“The upgrade will include the construction and equiping of the Laboratory, Construction of additional sanitation facilities, expansion of the pharmacy wing and restoring power backup,” she stated.

Author: Pristone Mambili

A trained Journalist with passion for Radio and online Writing.