Safaricom, through its M-PESA and Safaricom Foundations, has provided support for health and economic empowerment projects in Kilifi and Mombasa Counties, amounting to KES 9.5 million. The projects are expected to positively impact over 7800 livelihoods.

The M-PESA Foundation, in partnership with the Flying Doctors Society of Africa, organized a fistula camp in Kilifi County. The camp, which was supported with KES 8.5 million, provided over 60 women with free fistula treatment and surgery at Kilifi County Referral Hospital. In addition to the treatment, the camp also provided training for Community Health Workers and Community Health Volunteers, which aimed to strengthen health outcomes and support for fistula cases.

Nicholas Nganga, Chairman of M-PESA Foundation, expressed his delight at the success of the camp, noting that it had created awareness about fistula and encouraged more women to get screened and take advantage of the medical camps to receive free surgeries. Nganga also highlighted that such interventions were in line with the Foundation’s purpose of transforming lives.

The partnership received high praise from Tanya Nduati, the CEO of the Flying Doctors’ Society of Africa, who commended it for providing access to medical services to those who need it the most. Nduati also highlighted that the partnership has helped to increase awareness about fistula and reduce the stigma associated with it. Additionally, she emphasized the Society’s commitment to restoring the dignity of women and girls in Kenya, as part of their efforts to eradicate fistula in the country by 2030.

In Mombasa County, the Safaricom Foundation, through the Ndoto Zetu initiative, equipped Railways Dispensary with an assortment of laboratory items to improve service delivery and boost blood analysis at the facility. The Foundation also funded the purchase of workshop equipment worth KES 1,000,000 to the Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya (APDK) to enable persons with disabilities to engage in entrepreneurship.

The investments made by the Safaricom Foundation are expected to contribute significantly to the economic empowerment of persons with disabilities and improve the quality of healthcare services provided at the Railways Dispensary.