The Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt on Friday donated an additional fully-kitted mobile Clinic to the Beyond Zero campaign as more sponsors pooled another Sh3.3 million to the initiative.
While thanking the Egyptian Government and the Beyond Zero partners for their continued commitment to the campaign, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta said she does not take for granted the massive support she has received from various stake-holders over the last three years since the initiative was launched.
“I do not take your support for granted. Beyond Zero does not take it for granted. Kenya does not take this support for granted,” said the First Lady at State House Nairobi where she received the mobile clinic and the additional funds for Beyond Zero.
She said more clinics are still needed especially in the vast counties with large hard-to-reach populations.
“The work these clinics are doing is fantastic. Some vast counties still need more clinics,” said the First Lady after receiving the mobile clinic from the Egyptian Ambassador to Kenya Mr Madmoud Ali Talaat and Ambassador Hazem Fahmy, the Secretary General of the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD).
The envoys were accompanied by Mrs Dina Mahmoud who is the Second Secretary at the Egyptian Embassy.
The First Lady underlined the need to refurbish the existing health facilities as an ongoing priority of the campaign working closely with the County First Ladies.
“It is the little things that we do for our people that matter,” said the First Lady.
Ambassador Talaat said his Government is committed to work with both the First Lady and President Uhuru Kenyatta whom he described as “humble, down to earth and doing a lot for this country”.
The Ambassador said the First Lady was not only an inspiration to Kenyans but also the Egyptians.
“You are very inspiring to all of us, both in Egypt and the Embassy. You inspire us a lot,” said the Envoy.
Ambassador Hazem said Kenya holds a strategic position in Africa and his country wants to continue working with the country as a partner.
He praised the First Lady for coming up with the Beyond Zero campaign adding there is nothing more noble than “changing the lives of mothers and children” which are the keystones of the initiative.
The partners and sponsors who presented the Sh2.3 million kitty included the Eldad Women Group who gave a cheque donation of Sh1 million. The group comprises 25 women who are involved in various initiatives in their respective rural areas all aimed at assisting people in the countryside.
An additional Sh2.3 million was presented by 10 organizations grouped under Kenya Health Leaders Forum all focusing on various health initiatives including HIV and Aids, Paediatrics and maternal health.
The funds will be utilized by the Beyond Zero Secretariat for its back end support to the initiative.
The 10 sponsors included the Population Health Services (PS Kenya), Intra-Health, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation, Clinton Access Initiative, Amref, Shops /Abt Associates, John Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynaecology And Obstetrics, Centre for Health Solutions and the Christian Health Association of Kenya and the LVCT Health.
Chief Executive Officer for PS Kenya Anthony Okoth who epresented the 10 organizations said the NGOs involved in health matters look forward to continued engagement with Beyond Zero.