First ladies Margaret Kenyatta, Angeline Ndayubaha join nurses to mark their week

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta (L) and her Burundi counterpart Angeline Ndayubaha. [PSCU]

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and her Burundi counterpart Angeline Ndayubaha joined nurses at Nyanza’s largest referral hospital in planting trees to mark nurses’ week.

The afternoon tour at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) saw the two visit Beyond Zero campaign project and a brief stopover at the facility outpatient department.

The two jetted in Kisumu ahead of Madaraka Day celebrations.

The facility Chief Executive Officer George Rae took time to introduce the guests to a section of nurses, reminding them of the week’s theme of “Frontline Warriors”.

Both Margaret and Ndayubaha congratulated the nurses and other medical workers for providing support to hundreds of patients during the pandemic.

Margaret expressed satisfaction with the ongoing Beyond Zero campaign which she initiated to complement existing initiatives to improve access and quality maternal and child health.

 The duo was accompanied by Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong'o's wife, Dorothy Nyong’o and Bungoma Governor Patrick Wangamati's wife, Caroline Wangamati.

Dorothy took the time to explain a vegetable tower innovation to her guests, urging them to borrow the idea with the potential to address food insecurity in both countries.

“The innovation is economical and simple, which can help women earn income and bring food to the table,” Nyong’o said.

The nurses target to plant 7000 tree seedlings with aim of supporting the government agenda of if increasing Kenya’s forest cover to 10 percent by 2022.