Kamashinani Foundation donates Sh12.5 million pharmaceutical drugs to Meru County
Meru County government has received 2.4 million cetirizine tablets worth Sh12.5 million from Kamashinani Foundation in partnership with EK Foundation.
Cetirizine is an antihistamine used to relieve allergy symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose, itching eyes/nose, sneezing, hives, and itching
The consignment that is expected to serve the hospitals for two years will be distributed to all rural facilities within the county.
Speaking while handing over the consignment, Meru Senator Mr Kathuri Murungi who is the founder and Patron of Kamashinani Foundation said the drugs will help curb allergy cases in the County for two years.
“If the administration indicates that the allergy has exceeded they can ask us to bring more drugs,” Senator Kathuri who doubles as the Senate Deputy Speaker added.
Kathuri noted that the conditional grant that the county gets from the Treasury as well as the money that is allocated to the county government were not enough to satisfactorily cater for the health needs in the county, and therefore, such partnerships were the way to go.
He added that healthcare requires a huge budget that cannot be only met by the government and hence the partnership will help the hospitals to offer health services to the residents.
“The need for healthcare in this country is enormous, we are crying that Meru Level five hospital should be elevated to level six, and hence to get to that level we need a lot of resources. We are today helping the County and National government to offer health services to the residents smoothly,” Mr Kathuri said.
Kathuri noted that the Foundation will work hand in hand with Meru County Government and the health department in a bid to know the main areas that they can support the health sector.
He said EK, through the Kamashinani Foundation, will be bringing in more drugs and other medical supplies that will go a long way in supporting the hospitals in the County.
The Meru Senator also lauded President William Ruto for the Social Health Insurance cover noting that it will help cover millions of Kenyans who could not afford to pay hospital charges due to lack of a medical cover.
Receiving the Donation Meru Level Five Hospital Acting CEO Ms Leah Moriasi appreciated the foundation for the donation noting that the hospital needs about one billion worth of medication to cater for various health needs of the residents visiting the level five facility.
“The resources we are able to allocate are barely 25 to 30 percent and therefore when we get partners who are willing to come and supplement that it definitely goes a long way to bridge the gap to a 100percent,” Ms Moriasi said.
Expressing gratitude, Meru County Government Director Health Administration Dr. Koome Muthuri emphasized the county’s commitment to ensuring continuous and uninterrupted healthcare services for the community.
Last year Kamashinani and EK Foundations signed a partnership agreement to intervene and support the existing cancer centre situated at Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital in a bid to curb rising cases of cancer in the County.
The Foundation also donated computers to Meru Level Five Hospital.
Kamashinani foundation is famous for its efforts to support learners form humble backgrounds to continue with their education through funding and offering them scholarships.
Last year over 80 learners who could have missed to join form one due to lack of fees received scholarship to pursue their Secondary education courtesy of Kamashinani Foundation.
