Airtel joins the First Lady to achieve universal health coverage

Airtel Kenya has partnered with Kenya’s First Lady, Her Excellency Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta through her Beyond Zero initiative, to accelerate the achievement of Universal Health Coverage Kenya.

According to the World Health Organization, Universal Health Coverage (UHC), is aimed at ensuring that people from all walks of life get to receive the health services they need without suffering financial hardship. It seeks to focus on the provision of primary health care and the reduction of expenditure when seeking medication.

The UHC program focuses on reproductive health, maternal and neonatal health together with child and adolescent health care. And now the recently launched Free Medical Safari that will enable access to specialized services such as fistula repair surgeries, cancer screening, eye care for the elderly as well as orthopedic clinic. It will also offer screening services for heart diseases in children.

Airtel penned down a donation of Kshs. 2.6 million towards the “Free Medical Safari”, during its launch in Narok County.

Airtel’s financial contribution is towards the fistula repair surgeries for the women in Narok county and will be undertaken by AMREF.  Airtel will further offer free SMS broadcasts to educate communities on the causes of fistula, its prevention and where to seek medical attention for such conditions. The communication campaign will also seek to demystify the disease to stop the stigma on the affected persons.

Airtel Kenya’s Managing Director, Prasanta Das Sarma voiced his pleasure for the partnership with the first lady saying, “We are delighted to be partnering with H.E, the First Lady of the Republic of Kenya in supporting her efforts that are geared towards the realization of Universal Health Coverage which is paramount for all Kenyans. At Airtel, we uphold a belief in shared responsibility to the society therefore we are honored to be part of this great team that is making a difference in the community,” said Sarma.

In 2015, Airtel donated a mobile clinic worth Kshs 10 million to support the First Lady’s Beyond Zero campaign which aims to reduce high rates of maternal and child mortality in Kenya. Airtel has also supported the Beyond Zero Campaign by sponsoring its employees and customers to participate in the First Lady’s half Marathon.