Femme StaffLast Saturday, my colleagues and I traveled to Wote town in Makueni County for the M-Pesa Foundation Medical Camp. This is a transformative initiative that provides much-needed healthcare services to thousands of people in underserved areas free of charge.
Though she receives a small facilitation token from her county, her motivation comes from a place of passion and commitment rather than financial gain. Otherwise in her day-to-day life she’s a farmer.
Among the many individuals who turned up for medical attention, one story that stood out was that of Catherine Mutheu (Not her real name). Catherine is a Community Health Promoter under the Makueni County Government and has spent years volunteering to ensure that community members receive essential information and awareness about health services. In fact she was part of the team that mobilized the people who attended the medical camp on Saturday. This time, however, she was not just present as a mobilizer but also as a patient in need of medical attention.
Read about the M-Pesa Foundation Medical Camp in Githurai.
For decades, Catherine has lived with a persistent reproductive health issue that began when she was in Class Eight. The condition has continued to pester her throughout her adulthood, even throughout marriage and the birth of her six children. Over the years, she has sought medical intervention at various hospitals, including Kenyatta National Hospital, but her symptoms have never been fully resolved.
She arrived at the M-Pesa Foundation Medical Camp with renewed hope that this time, she will finally get the answers he has been seeking all her adult life. She felt that she was in the right place since the camps have specialist consultations, a laboratory and treatment.
The medical camp, a collaborative effort between the M-Pesa Foundation and healthcare professionals, provided a wide range of services, including screenings for chronic illnesses, maternal and child healthcare, dental services, and gynecological consultations. For the thousands who showed up, getting these services at no cost is something rare and they are all very grateful to M-Pesa Foundation.
Catherine’s story is a clear testament of the transformative nature of charity initiatives under Safaricom and M-Pesa Foundations, as well as the resilience of many Kenyan women who juggle personal struggles while still dedicating themselves to the well-being of their families and communities. It also highlights the importance of initiatives like the M-Pesa Foundation Medical Camp, which increases healthcare access to the less privileged in society.
Catherine’s journey to healing may not be over yet, but it has started and she’s in the right hands. We wish her all the best as she navigates the debilitating condition and finally gets to live in the freedom that she desires.
In Makueni County, Safaricom has implemented several health interventions, including the construction of a Ksh.27 million maternity complex at Tawa Sub-County Hospital and a free fistula camp at Makueni County Referral Hospital where over 200 women received surgery and treatment.
Under Safaricom Foundation’s Ndoto Zetu initiative, facilities such as Itumbule Health Centre, Kako Health Centre, Kilungu Sub-County Hospital and Kalamba Dispensary have received equipment to improve service delivery.
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