Mwakirunge residents during the free medical camp at Inspired Word UMC Mission Centre in Mombasa. [Eunice Omollo, Standard]
For years, many residents living around the Mwakirunge dumpsite in Mombasa County have endured illness without seeking medical care, because they cannot afford it.
That reality became evident during a three-day free medical camp that attended to more than 630 people, with respiratory infections, fungal skin diseases and chronic illnesses emerging as some of the most common conditions among residents.
The outreach, held over the weekend, brought together healthcare workers who offered medical consultations, laboratory tests, treatment, health education, mental health assessments and referrals for patients requiring specialised care.
Medical records from the camp show that 111 patients were diagnosed with upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), making it the leading illness treated during the exercise.
