Residents of Tabaka in South Mugirango Sub County are set to benefit from a free medical camp organized by the Kisii County Government in collaboration with doctors from Alabama, USA.

The three day free medical camp was launched by CEC for Health Services Sarah Omache at Nyachenge trading centre in a ceremony graced by area MCA Apepo Ombasa.

Hundreds of residents turned up for the camp where they were screened for various ailments including diabetes, cancer, malaria and HIV. 12 doctors from Outreach Project, a Non Governmental Organisation based in the US, were on hand to treat the patients.

They are led by Bea Reeves and supported by 21 health workers from Kisii County. The team is moving round schools and villages educating residents on the need to change their lifestyles and use clean water.

“This is a community initiative where we work with residents to identify the root causes of disease and try to prevent them. For this reason, we are training them on lifestyle change especially on the need to clean water before drinking. Contaminated water is a major cause of ailments,” said Reeves.

Mrs. Omache thanked the medics for volunteering the help residents saying the County Government would ensure the community approach is replicated in other wards.

“The free medical camp is part of the sideline activities lined up ahead of the Lake Region Health Conference slated for March this year in Kisii County. Each member county is expected to undertake screening for non-communicable diseases as pre-conference activities and their findings will be shared during the conference,” said Mrs. Omache.

13 Counties including Migori, Bomet, Nyamira, Kisumu, Siaya, Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega, Kericho and Trans-Nzoia form the Lake Region Economic Bloc.

On Thursday, the team will move to Giatunda and later Nyatike in the three-day exercise.