Kirinyaga: Hundreds of Kirinyaga town residents over the weekend turned up for free medical services, with health experts offering screening, consultation, and treatment services. The initiative led by Ms. Wangui Ngirici, Chairperson of Kenya Seed Company, aimed at improving access to healthcare for local communities.
According to Kenya News Agency, Ms. Ngirici stated that healthcare challenges continue to affect many families across the country, particularly in rural areas where access to regular screening and treatment remains limited. She noted that the medical camp had initially targeted about 1,000 residents, but the turnout exceeded expectations, with more than 2,500 people seeking services.
Ngirici highlighted the overwhelming response, indicating the significant need for such programmes within communities. The initiative also aimed to help residents detect diseases early through screening and receive immediate medical support for better health outcomes. She promised to expand similar medical camps to other parts of Kirinyaga to benefit more residents from preventive healthcare services.
A clinical officer at the camp, Jonathan Ngichiri, detailed that the outreach provided a wide range of services, including cancer screening, general medical consultations, and testing for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Ngichiri reiterated that the number of attendees surpassed the organisers' expectations and stressed the increasing prevalence of lifestyle-related illnesses in the region, emphasizing the importance of regular screening.
Residents who attended the camp expressed gratitude for the initiative, noting its impact in providing free medical services. Elizabeth Wambui Munene thanked Ngirici for organising the programme and called for more initiatives to support vulnerable community members. Other residents, like Gladys Njeri and Jackson Waweru, highlighted the financial challenges faced by many in accessing healthcare and urged the government to address these issues.
Meanwhile, resident Harrison Njeru encouraged young people to take advantage of medical camps and participate actively in community programmes. He advocated for policies addressing youth challenges and called on leaders and well-wishers to support vulnerable society members through initiatives such as medical camps and empowerment programmes. Residents acknowledged the outreach programme's role in addressing immediate health needs and raising awareness about preventive healthcare's importance.