The Daktari Smart program, created by Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital, the Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation, and the M-PESA Foundation, aims to help at least 32,400 kids across five counties initially. Over five years, they plan to reach 5 million children in the region and provide direct care to 45,000 kids with serious illnesses like cancer and heart disease.
Since its start in 2021, the program has helped 10,000 children get specialized medical care in Narok, Samburu, Baringo, Homa Bay, and Lamu counties. During World Health Day, the CEO of Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital, Dr. Robert Nyarango, pushed for using telemedicine to offer better and more affordable care, which could help reduce child deaths from preventable causes. He highlighted the program’s success in reaching children with specialized care and urged more collaboration to expand its reach.
The theme for this year’s World Health Day, “My Health, My Right,” emphasizes health as a fundamental human right, with a push towards making healthcare more accessible. A 2022 study showed Kenya’s healthcare workforce is far below the WHO’s recommended levels, highlighting the challenge of accessing specialized healthcare services. Dr. Patrick Amoth from the Ministry of Health pointed out the role of technology in improving healthcare access and mentioned the development of regulations to support e-health and telemedicine initiatives. Karen Basiye from Safaricom PLC also stressed the importance of partnerships and investments in health technology to enhance healthcare access and affordability.
The Daktari Smart telemedicine kit, equipped with advanced medical devices, enables local healthcare workers to collaborate with specialists at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital for accurate diagnoses and better patient care, offering a high-tech solution to healthcare challenges in underserved areas.
