Sick children in Samburu can now access doctors online

Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital Chief Operating Officer Edwin Onchari, Samburu County Deputy Governor Julius Leseeto and Chairman of Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital Foundation Les Baillie observe as Resident Clinical Officer at Samburu Referral Hospital, Jackline Njomoni has a live consultation with a pediatric specialist. [Standard]

Samburu is the latest county to benefit from an initiative by M-PESA Foundation and Gertrude’s Hospital aimed at improving access to quality healthcare services to needy and disadvantaged children.

‘Daktari Smart,’ which aims to reach over 30,000 children, seeks to address challenges such as poor infrastructure, which leads to late hospital arrivals during emergencies, sometimes too late, Karen Basiye, Head of Sustainable Business and Social Impact at Safaricom.

Through the initiative, the number of referrals will be reduced as sick children will have access to telemedicine and specialists virtually using county health facilities.

According to the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board, the doctor to patient ratio currently stands at one doctor for every 6,355 people, making it difficult to access a qualified medical professional and the ratio increases, even more, when it comes to specialists.

Through 'Daktati Smart', doctors in Samburu to connect virtually with their counterparts at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital for specialist medical advice thus reducing patient referrals, save costs and make treatments more prompt.

M-PESA Foundation has committed over Sh168 million while Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation will invest over Sh35 million in the next three years.