First Lady launches new machine that will diagnose HIV for Mothers and children faster.

Kenya's First Lady Margaret Kenyatta{R} in Kisumu today during  the launch of the second Beyond Zero Medical Safari.She has also launched a machine that will ensure that HIV diagnosis for mothers and infants is quicker, cheaper and more accessible.Looking on is Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang Nyong'o and Mozambique First Lady Isaura Nyusi-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo

By Dickson Odhiambo.

November 22, 2018.

First Lady launches new machine that will diagnose HIV for Mothers and children faster.

Kenya’s First lady Margaret Kenyatta has today launched a machine that will ensure that HIV diagnosis for mothers and infants is quicker, cheaper and more accessible.

The Beyond Zero has donated the machine known as an Abbott Point of Care device to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu.

Addressing the public today at Jomo Kenyatta Sports ground  in Kisumu today during the launch of the second Beyond Zero Medical Safari, the First lady said the introduction of the new technology will reduce the turnaround time for receiving babies results of HIV positive mothers from 30-90 days to 24 hours.

She says the national point of care testing implementation roadmap in Kenya and utilization of multi-disease testing platforms for optimizing early infant diagnosis policies will also be of great help to Kenyans.

Mrs. Kenyatta says the launch of the elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV from mother to child business plan is also very vital in this country.

“We are still committed to keep mothers, newborns and children alive and healthy. The Launch of the Emtct business plan and the donation of the point of care devices are important in ensuring that we keep building momentum in readiness to the World Health Organization validation in 2021, of having less than five percent transmission rate across all Kenyan health facilities,” Mrs. Kenyatta says.

She adds that the new HIV infections among children reduced from an estimated 13,000 in 2013 to 6,100 in 2016, adding that these results demonstrate the value of result-oriented partnerships between the National and County Government, the private sector and other actors such as the Beyond Zero.

The launch of the new machine has taken place during the Beyond Zero Medical Safari held in Kisumu today where thousands of people turned up for medical services that have been offered free of charge where services offered include Fistula repair, screening for cervical, breast and prostate cancer, Eye clinic for elderly persons, Orthopedic clinic for children, screening for heart diseases in children and screening for diabetes and hypertension, HIV counseling and Testing, immunization and checkups for pregnant mothers.

Others are Linda Mama registration for all pregnant mothers, assessment and registration for children for children with disabilities and NHIF Members registration.

The first lady says the lifecycle approach of the services offered during the safari places people at the center of health care systems while providing an opportunity to address the changing health needs through quality of care.

The Beyond Zero Medical Safari is an initiative by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and it aims at providing an integrated and specialized healthcare to Kenyans through free screening, treatment and referral services.

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