The Ministry of Health has set aside Ksh1.5 billion to provide 120 portable health clinics in all slums by June 30, 2016.
The Director of Medical Services, Nicholas Muraguri, said Tuesday in Nairobi that the first batch of 30 clinics, which will be offering free outpatient services, will be opened in December in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Thika.
The ministry cites land ownership challenges in the slums as the key reason for the mobile clinics option. “The clinics are classified as dispensaries and will offer full package medical services for the urban poor outpatients at no costs,” said Dr Muraguri.
See also: Urban poor spend twice more on healthcare
He was speaking during the launch of the Measurement, Learning and Evaluation of the Kenya Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (Tupange): Kenya Endline Household Survey 2014.
The services will cut across HIV care, Tuberculosis care, immunization (vaccination), deworming, deworming, nutrition package, medical emergencies and post rape cases.
The services will also cater for rising cases of rape among the urban poor where victims can’t access urgent medical care.
He said that the clinics will be strategically placed next to police stations, schools, churches, among other public places in order to encourage clients to get the required medical assistance.
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