Migori: Medical camp outreaches have been regarded as one of the best ways of improving health-seeking behaviour among the Kenyan population. The majority of the population find it hard to seek medical check-ups unless they fall sick, a behaviour that at times leads to loss of life that could have been prevented.

According to Kenya News Agency, it is in this light that Migori County Department of Health and various partners have come up with plans to promote medical camp outreaches to the population at the Sub-County level to not only provide free medical services but also create awareness to improve health-seeking behaviour. Ms Dolphin Obino, a Health Promotion Activities Coordinator in the County, emphasized that understanding one’s health issues is contingent upon seeking medical assistance. She explained that many individuals delay medical consultations until illness strikes, making it challenging to address lifestyle diseases like cancer effectively.

The medical camp outreach has become a crucial platform to engage citizens at the grassroots level, providing affordable and accessible healthcare services. For instance, in Nyagot Jope village-Kanyasa Ward in Nyatike Sub-County, over 1,000 individuals were screened and treated in a single day through a medical camp organized by Migori County and its partners.

While the primary goal of these camps is to offer free medical services, they also serve as an educational tool, reminding the public that healthcare services are available at all health facilities across the country. Ms Obino highlighted the misconception that screenings are exclusive to medical camps, whereas similar procedures are conducted at regular health care facilities.

Mrs Millicent Kanango, a nursing officer, underscored the importance of these outreach programs, particularly in regions like Nyatike, by addressing medical care challenges such as immunisation, malaria, teenage pregnancy, and HIV infection. She observed that community-driven initiatives often encourage individuals, especially the youth, to participate in healthcare activities collectively.

Mrs Atieno Ochola, a resident of Nyagot Jope village, shared her personal experience, stating that the medical camp enabled her son to receive immunisation conveniently at their doorstep. She commended the role of Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) in raising awareness about the camps, which she described as lifesaving.

Retired Naval Officer Mr Paul Okumu expressed his appreciation for the medical camp, describing it as a crucial lifeline for many residents. He recounted how the camp facilitated screenings for various diseases, providing reassurance for those who were found to be healthy.

Mrs Marble Chanzu, Migori County Chief Officer in charge of Public Health, emphasized the preventive focus of the medical camps, which offer free screening for lifestyle diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and HIV, along with blood donation services. She stressed the importance of partnerships to extend the reach of medical camp outreaches to regions lacking nearby health facilities.

Mrs Chanzu announced plans to operationalize a nearby dispensary to enhance healthcare accessibility for the community. She also praised the CHVs for their efforts in mobilizing residents, noting that their contributions are instrumental in saving lives.

Migori County Director of Public Health and Sanitation, Mr Clement Odero, highlighted the challenges faced by Nyatike, a semi-arid region, in accessing medical services due to the distance from health care facilities. The medical camp in Nyagot Jope addressed some of these challenges by offering essential healthcare services to those unable to travel long distances.

Migori County, with support from various partners, aims to expand medical camp outreaches across all sub-counties, focusing on diagnosing lifestyle diseases and promoting health-seeking behaviour among residents. These camps also integrate other services, such as registration drives for the Social Health Authority (SHA) and National Social Security Fund (NSSF), contributing significantly to the county’s SHA registration efforts, currently at 42 percent.