In line with SDG 3’s mission to ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages and Safaricom Foundation’s maternal health interventions, the Foundation has donated a Kshs 9.5 million boat ambulance to King Fahad Referral Hospital in Lamu County to help deal with medical emergencies.
The ambulance will impact over 150,000 people by linking patients from Faza and Mpeketoni Sub-County Hospitals, Kiwayuu and Kizingitini dispensaries, Kiunga and other health centres to referral services at King Fahad Referral Hospital.
The ambulance, which uses a toll-free number for emergency services, is also fitted with emergency and surgical equipment needed to treat patients needing critical care and is estimated to be able to conduct 50 referrals per month.
The Foundation has invested more than Kshs 33 million in maternal healthcare in the hope that these latest investments will bring us closer to achieving near zero maternal and infant mortality rates.
Safaricom Foundation’s maternal health interventions in Lamu County are aimed at reducing the maternal mortality rate which stands at 676 deaths per 100, 000 births compared to the national rate of 362 deaths per 100, 000 births. The objective is to also eliminate the infant mortality rate which stands at 4.81 deaths per 1,000 live births.
This week the Foundation also commissioned education projects worth Kshs 2.7 million in in the county through the Ndoto Zetu initaitive with Kauthara Primary School receiving two ECDE classrooms. Bahati Njema Primary School and Shekale Primary School received classroom furniture and books respectively. Over 70 women at Kirinyaga Women’s Group in Hongwe also received equipment to grow their business.
