More than 800 Taita Taveta residents have benefited from Kenya Ports Authority’s free medical camp.
They received diagnosis and treatment services, laboratory services, dental services, eye check-ups, family planning, mother and child care, cervical and prostate cancer screening.
Other services included immunisation, Covid-19 vaccination, nutritional counselling and pharmacy.
The medical camp held on Saturday at Mwakinyungu Primary School in Mwatate came as a reprieve to residents who have to travel to Mwatate Hospital for diagnosis and treatment.
KPA corporate communication manager Bernard Osero said the remote area lacked the privilege of getting quality healthcare thus prompting the need for the camp.
“We discovered that the Mwakinyungu area is remote and cut off from the privileges of quality healthcare with only a poorly equipped dispensary to serve the locals,” Osero said.
The Sh3 million medical camp, he said, also attracted residents from neighbouring Msau, Ronge juu, Mlechi, Kithombo and Wundanyi areas.
Osero disclosed that the authority has partnered with other players to offer eye checkup services.
“Eye-related illnesses are a challenge to many people here. We have therefore partnered with Vijay Optica who will be offering spectacles to the people with poor sight,” he said.
Taita Taveta Deputy Governor Christine Kilalo lauded the partnership with KPA, noting that it will enable many people to benefit from the healthcare services.
Kilalo further urged residents to go for regular screening in a bid to avert the increasing cases of chronic ailments.
“Let all of us embrace the habit of regular medical checkups. Most diseases are ignored during early stages only to be discovered in patients when they are at an advanced stage,” she said.
Addressing journalists at the camp, the deputy governor said early screening of patients allows for timely intervention by offering necessary medication before the disease gets severe thus saving lives.
She said the devolved unit is open to entering into partnership with different stakeholders and investors in order to boost service delivery.
Beneficiary Mary Wali, 68, said the camp has many residents who only depend on the nearby Mengo dispensary.
“Mengo dispensary is ill-equipped and many times there are no drugs. It is a good day because we have received quality medication from the visiting team,” she said.
Wali said more support should be given towards screening and treatment of cancer, diabetes, pressure and eye diseases.
Such disease, she said, had not been sufficiently addressed for lack of medication in the nearby health centre.
