Kiriita ward residents benefit from free medical services from Kansas to Kenya Group

Nyandarua, Friday, June 16, 2023

KNA by Grace Wambui

Over 700 residents of Kiriita Ward in Mairo Inya, Nyandarua County have received a two-day free health checkup offered by the Kansas to Kenya Group (K2K) at Baari Health Centre.

The event had been facilitated by the K2K group in partnership with the University of Nairobi school of Pharmacy. The group has been offering free medical camps to other areas in Kenya like Mirangini in Nyandarua County and is set to proceed to Baringo County.

A team of dedicated medical professionals including doctors, nurses and volunteers provided consultations, checkups and treatment across various health conditions of both chronic and acute concerns. The organization, based in Kansas, United States, has been actively involved in healthcare initiatives in Kenya for 15 years. 

Patrick Parker, medical director of K2K expressed his gratitude in the success of the medical camp and thanked the locals for showing up in great numbers. “The turnout was good, we were not even able to attend to all patients. I really wished we could stay here for one more day but that will be impossible for we as a group are already committed to other health centres that we had pledged to visit tomorrow,” Dr. Parker said.

The nursing officer in charge at Baari Health Centre Anne Githinji thanked the Kansas organization for choosing to set up a medical camp at their hospital.

“We are grateful to K2K for bringing such a useful event which does not only put Baari Healh Centre into the limelight but also helps the residents around in tackling their health issues,” said Anne.

Speaking about the initiative, Samuel Komu the lead organizer of the event, expressed his satisfaction with the impact of the medical camp and urged the K2K group to arrange another free medical camp.

“We are delighted to collaborate with K2K and extend quality health care to the residents of Mairo-inya. I plead with the group to organize another medical camp so that we could help those who cannot afford regular medical care,” Komu said.

The local residents showed their joy for the opportunity to receive free health care offered by K2k group. They were excited over receiving free medicines for their ailments stating that this had saved them from digging deep into their pockets to purchase the drugs prescribed to them by doctors from other health facilities.

Charles Githaiga, 62, and Mary Wangui who were among the patients present, thanked Baari Health Centre for bringing such medical services close to them saying that this would mainly help the elderly who were sometimes unable to walk for long distances in search of medical attention.

"With my old age, it could have been impossible for me to travel to Nyahururu or Nakuru level 5 hospital seeking treatment. I would like to thank Baari hospital for partnering with K2K group and offering to attend to our medical needs freely. I am grateful to K2K for organizing this medical camp. It has been of tremendous help for us. I have received free treatment and also free medicine which I could not have afforded in these hard economic times,” she said.

Local residents urged Nyandarua County Government to partner with such organisations in the future in a bid to help people with various medical conditions who were unable to meet the cost of treatment at either public or private hospitals.

Courtesy ; K. N. A