Over 2000 Kamenu residents get free medical treatment.

Some of the scenes at Kimuchu Health camp organised by The Thika Town Constituency health department over the weekend.

More than 2000 people in Kiganjo and adjoining estates within Thika West Sub-County on Saturday received free medical treatment that saw them checked and treated for various diseases.

The event, which was organised by the office of the Thika Town MP Eng. Patrick Wainaina in partnership with other stakeholders, was held at the Kimuchu Primary School ground.

Long queues were witnessed leading into the school compound as the medical staff raced against time to attend to patients who had come to seek treatment for various ailments.

Patients were given deworming medication as they registered and thereafter taken for medical check-ups in various rooms where doctors were stationed. They were examined in the discipline of general medicine, pediatrics, eye (ophthalmology), diabetes detection and blood sugar, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) as well as some dental checkups.

They were also given a free health talk on how to protect themselves from common ailments and lifestyle illnesses, voluntary counselling and testing for HIV and family planning, emergency action and care during accidents and fire outbreaks among others.

More than 20 patients were diagnosed for further treatment and were issued with referral letters to Thika Level 5 Hospital.

A post event discussion with the doctors revealed that the most common problem faced by the residents was respiratory tract infections and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes.

Speaking on this very important initiative, Wainaina acknowledged good health as central to economic progress as healthy populations were more productive and saved more.

He added that he decided to organise the camp after realising that majority of the people could not afford the cost of medical procedures or access to them due to the cost implications.

“We have received so many old people with a number of illnesses who could not make it to hospital just because they cannot afford to pay for health treatment. Conducting such a health camp is of utmost use to them. We want to ensure we have a healthy society for people to successfully contribute towards economic growth,” said the MP.

Wainaina promised to endeavour to provide necessary medical attention to the needy sections of society and help make their lives easier.

“We are planning to extend this activity to other regions as well. Such camps increase awareness of the people’s medical condition and if need be, help them take necessary medical steps,” explained Wainaina.

He urged residents to take charge of their health and go for frequent checkups, adding that one’s first prevention was awareness.

Locals who benefited in the exercise praised the medical camp and their MP for taking initiative in ensuring their health was well taken care of. Other than medical checkup, they were sensitised on drug and substance abuse, emergency care and fire rescue drills.

Among those partnering with the office of the area MP to make the camp a success included, doctors from Thika Level 5 Hospital, Meridian Medical Centre and Annam’s Dental care, Huduma Centre, Red Cross Thika Branch, Lil Magic Foundation and Thika International Centre Of Technology (ICT).

Present in the camp was the area security and administrative agencies led by the Thika Municipality Assistant County Commissioner Mugambi Itobi.