Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) has emerged winner of the Improving Access to Primary Health care Services award at the second Quality Health care Awards in Kenya.
The nonprofit won the award due to its efforts in improving the access of vulnerable citizens to primary health care.
The organisation established the first clinic in Kibera in 2010 with a handful of staff and volunteers to treat communicable illnesses.
With the numbers rising, SHOFCO later established satellite clinics in neighbouring Manatha, Kianda, Subra, and Makina between 2014 and 2017.
Health Director Emma Ingaiza said most of the people who live in Kibera and Mathare cannot afford health care services.
‘Because there was no facility that offered a full range of primary health services, they would go to places like Kariobangi, Ruaraka and Pangani, which is middle class, or at times Muthaiga, which is high class and very expensive’, Ingaiza said.
The clinics offer services at near zero cost as patients pay just Sh200 which covers consultation, lab tests and drugs.
‘All those under five years, maternal services, TB and HIV/AIDS are free, as well as nutrition’, Ingaiza said.
Clinical officer in charge of quality improvement at the Kibera clinic, Dalmas Omollo, said lives of Kenyans have been improved by the clinics.
‘We believe through what we do here, the lives of Kibera people have been impacted’, he said.
Source: The Star
Photo source: SHOFCO
