Equity Group Foundation (EGF) is venturing into the health sector with plans to construct 300 low-cost affordable clinics across Kenya in support of the government’s agenda of achieving Universal Health Coverage.
Equity Bank’s Director of Marketing Mr. David Nyamu said plans were underway to establish the affordable clinics in various parts of the country as a way of giving back to the community and enhancing access to quality health services especially for people in poor areas.
He was speaking at Mwatate sub-county hospital during an event to donate a consignment of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) worth millions to medics in Taita-Taveta County.
“The Foundation intends to further our engagement with Kenyans and open 300 affordable clinics under the Equity Afya programme,” he disclosed.
The items donated included disposable gowns, surgical masks, N95 respiratory masks, nitrile gloves, hair cover and gumboots. The items will be distributed in Mwatate and Taveta sub-county hospitals which were identified as isolation centers for Covid-19 patients.
Nyamu said that EFG would send more consignments to the county health facilities to support war on Covid-19. He stated that EGF had distributed PPEs worth Sh237 million to 68 isolation centers in the 47 counties.
The money is part of the Sh1.1 billion raised by Equity CEO Dr. James Mwangi, Equity Bank and Mastercard Foundation with both Dr. Mwangi and the bank contributing Sh300 million each and Mastercard Foundation donating Sh500 million.
Nyamu said all PPEs were locally procured to support Kenya’s industries and manufacturing sector.
The event was attended by Governor Granton Samboja, Women Representative Lydia Haika and a number of senior county government officials.
Taita-Taveta County has to date recorded 46 cases of Covid-19 patients. Already, 40 patients have been treated and discharged from the isolation centers. Only six patients are currently being held in the facilities. One patient is in Mwatate sub-county hospital while five are in Taveta sub-county hospital.
Nyamu said that the bank had partnered with International Finance Corporation (IFC) and set aside five billion shillings that was accessible to traders and players in the tourism sector who had lost business as a result of coronavirus.
“We have entered into an agreement with IFC for a facility of fifty million dollars to boost traders and stakeholders in the tourism sector. We encourage them to patronize these funds,” he said.
Governor Samboja thanked the foundation for its donation and called upon other institutions in the region to support the war against Covid-19.
The governor said it was wrong for institutions to earn millions of shillings from exploiting resources in the county yet fail to help in times of crisis.
“We have other institutions and organizations that have exploited our resources yet they remain unmoved by our plight. We are asking them to come and help in keeping our people safe,” he said.
He added that the 160-bed facility that is currently under construction in Mwatate would serve the county at large. The governor disclosed that the county was seeking Sh100 million to construct an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Moi County Referral Hospital in Voi sub-county to enhance health care for local residents.
