In a noble cause rarely seen on the African continent, the First Lady of Kenya, Margaret Gakuo Kenyatta, started the Beyond Zero campaign. This is a campaign that aims at improving access to maternal and child health outreach services throughout the country combining the fourth, fifth and sixth Millennium Development Goals. With the 2015 deadline for the MDGs upon us, the campaign is accelerating the government implementation of the national plan.
Beyond Zero was launched on 24th January 2014 and has since drummed up enthusiasts and well-wishers. Alot has been done in this campaign and next is the First Lady’s Half Marathon to be held in Nairobi on March 8th 2015. More than 15,000 participants are expected to take part in this run which is an anchor event for the Beyond Zero Campaign. The aim is to raise 600 million Kenya shillings.
The run is not the only event covered in the campaign; a number of mobile clinics have since been handed over with the plan being that each of the 47 counties, beginning with the most vulnerable, will have one. These would provide routine immunization along with other services. To date 20 mobile clinics have been handed over with the latest going to Uasin Gishu County on 26th February 2015. Recipients include Laikipia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Tharaka/ Nithi, Kisii, Marsabit, Nyeri, Wajir counties among others.
Many organisations, businessmen as well as international agencies have come in to fund the campaign. Many women and children’s lives will be changed by this cause. Generations will be saved.
In the First Lady’s words: “Ending preventable maternal and new-born deaths in our country is not a choice, it is a necessity.”
Beyond Zero in Pictures
