Beyond Zeros efforts against fistula receives Ksh.1.3M boost from Slovak Republic

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta’s Beyond Zero initiative has received a Ksh.1.3 million grant from the Slovak Government to boost its campaign against fistula.

The Ksh.1.3 million grant, channelled to Beyond Zero through the Slovak Aid, was signed on Wednesday at the Slovak Embassy in Nairobi by Ambassador František Dlhopolček and Beyond Zero Coordinator Angella Langat.

The grant is part of ongoing support the Slovak Government has been giving Kenya’s health sector.

Previously, the Slovak Government supported cardiac surgeries on 10 children with complex congenital heart diseases, performed by Slovak doctors in partnership with their counterparts at Mater Hospital in Nairobi in March 2019, an event that was witnessed by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta.

This was followed in July last year by a donation of Ksh.26 million Covid-19 response supplies that included testing kits, personal protective equipment, respirators, sanitizer, clothing and shoes to the Office of the First Lady.

Speaking during the brief signing ceremony, Ambassador Dlhopolček said his office looked forward to working more closely with the Beyond Zero initiative especially in addressing the plight of women suffering from fistula.

“This is the first Beyond Zero project that will be financed by the Slovak Aid. But I think this is the beginning because in our policy, Kenya belongs to the priority countries for Slovak development cooperation,” Ambassador Dlhopolček said.

“We are looking forward to cooperate more closely with Beyond Zero because we appreciate what you are doing and we consider Her Excellency the First Lady as a mentor of our cooperation.”

He singled out health, agriculture and education as his country’s main areas of focus in Kenya.

On her part, Ms Langat appreciated the financial support extended to Beyond Zero, saying it will go a long way towards treating women suffering from fistula.

“We will allocate the funds to a fistula camp that will be done in the north where the burden of fistula is high because of inadequate access to health facilities and poverty,” Ms Langat said.

The signing of the grant was witnessed by Slovak Deputy Head of Mission Kamila Kukova and Ms Vivianne Ngugi, the Head of Communication in the Office of the First Lady.