Healthcare experts have urged the government to strengthen public-private partnerships in a bid to improve access to medical services for rural communities across the country.
Speaking during a large-scale medical outreach camp in Ewaso Ngiro, Narok County, the Head of Health Services in Narok South, Reremoi Kipsang, said medical camps have proven effective in helping residents detect illnesses early and seek timely treatment.
“When we take services closer to the people through medical camps, more Kenyans in remote areas can identify their health challenges in time for proper intervention,” said Kipsang.
He noted that rural communities continue to face major barriers to healthcare, including long distances to hospitals, lack of equipment, and limited awareness of available services. He urged continuous health sensitisation to ensure those battling chronic illnesses receive sustained support and information on where to access care.
The Ewaso Ngiro medical camp, organised by M-Pesa Foundation in partnership with Zuri Health, Lions Sight First Eye Hospital, and Narok County Referral Hospital, attended to over 22,000 patients. The beneficiaries received free screening and treatment for various conditions including diabetes, hypertension, cervical cancer, fistula, and mental health, as well as eye care services.
According to eye specialists from Lions Sight First, follow-up clinics have been scheduled for patients diagnosed with eye infections to ensure continuous treatment and monitoring.
One of the beneficiaries, Caroline Chiruku, expressed gratitude for the initiative, saying it brought essential healthcare services to people who rarely access hospitals. “We are thankful to the organisers for coming all the way to reach us. We hope they’ll return to help even more people,” she said.
The event highlighted the critical role of partnerships between the public and private sectors in bridging Kenya’s healthcare gap, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
