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SPEECH BY H.E.

MARGARET KENYATTA, THE FIRST


LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA DURING THE
INAUGURAL HANDOVER OF THE 39th FULLY-KITTED
BEYOND ZERO MOBILE CLINIC TO GARISSA
COUNTY,

MAY 5, 2016
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me start by thanking Governor Nadhif Jama,
and the people of Garissa County for the warm
welcome and hospitality extended to us since our
arrival in this County. Garissa is a County on a firm
path to economic growth, with enormous potential
and steady determination. Its people have stood
together in the wake of numerous socio, economic
and security challenges. This indeed is the true
spirit of nationalism - a key pillar of our nations
prosperity.
First Lady, Amina Abdullahi, your tireless work in
initiatives that seek to gain the confidence of
women and girls is encouraging. The maternal and
financial initiative, the sanitary towels program,
your advocacy work against FGM, and the school
bursaries are all helping to lay a solid foundation
for our girls and women. An empowered society
where girls and women are given equal opportunity
is destined for greatness.
I must also commend your collective advocacy
work in getting students back into Garissa
University, following the tragic attack last year,
including setting up a memorial park for the
victims. It is a demonstration of faith and care. The

people of Garissa County have not allowed


skeptics, and people of ill motive, whose intention
was to destroy the fabric of unity and cohesion, to
divide them.
As you know, my passion lies in making a positive
contribution towards increasing health care access
for children and mothers. Governor Nadhif Jama,
today I witnessed the efforts and investment you
have made towards improving healthcare service
delivery especially for women and children. The
Maternal health shelter for women that we visited
this morning is an example. The investment in
increased health infrastructure-dispensaries and
maternity wards, establishment of new community
healthcare units, recruitment of healthcare
workers, purchasing of motor-bikes to support the
community outreach services - are among so many
other works that you are doing. This all speaks
volumes of your desire for a healthy society. And
today I am here to join you in making that desire a
reality. I especially thank Kenya Commercial Bank
for purchasing the mobile clinic that will contribute
to that reality.
There is need for accelerated action, and increased
support for building stronger county health
systems. Care throughout pregnancy, birth, and
after delivery is the new well-ness strategy for
improving the health of mothers and newborns. We
must all embrace this new strategy and work
together to strengthen our countrys health
systems.
The new area of concern that is challenging the
global and national health agendas is in responding
to children with special needs. Malnutrition in
mothers is said to be one of the leading challenges

that contribute to childrens intellectual and


physical disabilities. Early detection of issues such
as low birth weight, premature babies and still
births, are all preventable conditions which have
sadly not been sufficiently addressed. We must
empower our health workers with knowledge,
equipment and medical support to reduce the
growing statistics of children whose ability to thrive
and live to their full potential is compromised at
birth.
Together, we must seek ways to ensure an
integrated and comprehensive approach to
accelerate our collective efforts, and leverage the
gains made by the Kenya Government to improve
maternal, newborn and child health in the Country.
Its for these reasons that I join you today in
handing over a fully kitted mobile clinic to Garissa
County. It is my hope that this facility which, that
offers services to children, women and men too,
will effectively serve the people of Garissa County.
I thank all partners and friends who have joined me
here today, for their commitment to help
accelerate the health care services in the County.
May I now take this opportunity to hand over the
Beyond Zero Mobile Clinic to Garissa County,
Governor Honorable Nadhif Jama, on behalf of
Garissa County people.
Asanteni sana.

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