St John Ambulance joins First Lady in campaign to curb maternal, child deaths

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has welcomed the Saint John motorcycle ambulance project to boost maternal health in areas without adequate infrastructure.

Mrs Kenyatta said the project will complement her 'Beyond Zero' campaign that is aimed at eradicating maternal and child deaths in the country.

"I am encouraged that St John Ambulance has made safe pregnancy one of its top priorities," the First Lady said.

She spoke Sunday during the 87th annual St John Inspection Parade at KICC, Nairobi. The occasion is used to take stock of the ambulance services provider's achievements in the past year. The First Lady also commended the organisation for establishing 18 rescue centres at notorious accident black spots across the country to offer emergency medical care to accident victims.

"Stocked with life-support equipment and firefighting gear, the centres will improve the county's emergency referrals and disaster response," she said.

Mrs Kenyatta also called on Kenyans to obey traffic rules and be courteous to other road users to prevent road accidents. She also stressed the need for training more Kenyans to offer first aid during emergencies.

St Johns Ambulance Chief Commander Eliakim Masale said the organisation is undergoing restructuring to align itself to the Constitution.

Mr Masale appealed to retired medical workers to join the organisation as their services are needed at the grassroots. Present were Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia and Prior of St John Kenya Marsden Madoka.