Isiolo County first lady H.E Habiba Guyo has this afternoon graced a healthcare-focused event hosted in Marsabit County which was aimed at mitigating infant mortality rate in the greater ASAL region.
The event whose chief guest was the spouse of the Prime Cabinet Secretary Mrs. Tessie Mudavadi was aimed at reducing the number of children who die at pre-term as a result of lack of proper equipments at health facilities such as incubators among other things.
A host of first ladies from the ASAL region attended the event and stressed it’s importance while promising their full support for the initiative.
Posting to her social media pages, Mrs. Guyo, who has been proactive in promoting maternal and pre- and post-natal health across Isiolo County said the initiative will go a long way in arresting the worrying infant mortality statistics in the region which remains at an all time high.
“The Okoa Malaika Program, which aligns with the Universal Health Coverage efforts is an integral part of our nation’s strategy to enhance healthcare and reduce infant mortality rate.” Said Mrs. Guyo on her page.
Tessy Mudavadi, while donating units of neo-natal incubators to Marsabit County Referral Hospital reiterated Kenya Kwanza government’s commitment to improving healthcare across the country especially in the ASALs where she said more efforts were need to reverse the current situation which is worrying.
Launched in November 2023 under the Mudavadi Memorial Foundation, Okoa Malaika focuses on addressing the health challenges faced by infants and mothers in underserved communities.
Speaking at the launch event in Marsabit on Tuesday, Mrs Tessie Mudavadi who is the spouse of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Musalia Mudavadi emphasized on the importance of health interventions, particularly in rural settings.
“As a mother, I respect the traditions of all communities, but my primary concern remains promoting health matters in society,” she stated.
She promised to keep tabs on the progress of the Okoa Malaika Program which she emphasized had the potential to bring long lasting changes to the healthcare provision in the region.
The event saw the attendance of several county first ladies, including Habiba Galgalo of Isiolo, Madina Issak of Mandera, Lilian Ekamais of Turkana, and Beverlyne Lelelit of Samburu, demonstrating a united front in tackling health issues across the counties.
