The East African Diaspora Media Watch (EADM)

By Samuel Muwanguzi

 

In Summary: Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta, the first  of Kenya and founder of the Beyond Zero Campaign, saluted American generosity to humanitarian needs around the world and rallied support for her work towards improved health in Kenya and greater inclusivity in accessing quality health care in the country to reduce and prevent maternal and infant mortality rates in the country. She lamented that about forty percent of women in Kenya lose their lives giving birth because of the inadequate life-saving medical supplies and equipment to the most underserved hospitals and clinics.

Phoenix, Arizona—The First Lady of Kenya Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta has rallied the American people to support maternal health care needs of expectant mothers in Kenya to reduce on the high maternal and infant mortality rates caused by ill-equipped clinics and lack of medical supplies in health facilities. At the same time, she saluted the generosity and goodwill of the American people for unreservedly supporting the awareness campaign about humanitarian needs championed by First Ladies around the world by raising funds to implement their life-saving initiatives. Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta particularly appealed for enhanced support in the provision of life-saving medical supplies and equipment in the most undeserved hospitals and clinics where expectant mothers and their babies lose their lives due to inadequate facilities.

The Kenyan first lady told audiences at the First Ladies Luncheon 2016 held at JW Marriott Scottsdale and at Arizona State University (ASU) events last Friday that she was in the United States of America to develop a partnership that resonates with her at both a leadership and personal level. “This year, we are here to partner towards a vision that resonates with me; on a leadership level as the first lady of Kenya; on another, at a deeply personal level as a mother, to raise funds to deliver life-saving medical supplies and equipment to the most undeserved hospitals and clinics in Kenya,” she said with passion.

  

According to Beyond Zero Campaign, Kenya is perceived as one of the most dangerous countries for a woman to be pregnant and give birth; over 5,500 women die annually as a result of pregnancy related complications. The Kenyan first lady, Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta, a mother herself, founded the Beyond Zero Campaign in 2014 to save lives of expectant mothers and their babies. Accompanied by Kenya’s ambassador to the United States Robinson Njeru Githae, Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta paid glowing tribute to Mrs. Elinda Taylor for the warm reception to her delegation and the work she is doing for communities around the world that is so staggering in scope, and immeasurable in impact.

 

Mrs. Elinda Taylor, CEO of Project CURE, coordinated the three-day visit of Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta and  also hosted the First Lady’s Luncheon 2016 at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Scottsdale, Arizona last Friday, March 18. Launched in 2006, Project CURE hosts a First Ladies Luncheon annually to raise funds and brings awareness to the humanitarian efforts of First Ladies from around the world.

“Special thanks to you Mrs. Taylor for buying lunch for all of us and for the past three days of my stay here in Arizona during which I have had the incredible privilege of meeting people who have committed   themselves towards building a better world,” the Kenyan first lady Margaret Kenyatta said to thunderous applause.

Project cure, a leading organization involved in international healthcare and other humanitarian programs, has since 2006 raised and provided over $17 million worth of medical supplies and equipment to hospitals and clinics to several developing countries in Africa, Asia, South America, and the Caribbean Islands. During her visit to Arizona, Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta also met the first lady of the State of Arizona, Mrs. Angela Ducey, wife of Governor Doug Ducey and Mrs. Cindy McCain, wife to the senior State Senator of Arizona, John McCain.

Mrs. Kenyatta told her audiences that through her Beyond Zero campaign, she was in the country to rally support for her work towards improved health in Kenya and greater exclusivity in access to quality health care in the country. Mrs. Kenyatta lamented that about forty percent of women in Kenya have lost their lives giving birth because of the ill-equipped clinics and lack of medical supplies in health facilities.

 “We are here to work towards improved health in Kenya, and towards greater exclusivity in access to quality health care in the country,” she declared. She revealed that together with the government of Kenya, her Beyond Zero Campaign is actively working toward a vision of reducing maternal mortality from an alarming 40 percent to zero percent. “The government has introduced a program that is investing over $45 million in creating and upgrading hospitals across the country- equipping them with modern, state-of-the-art equipment which citizens can access at minimal cost,” she disclosed.

She further disclosed that the government of Kenya has removed charges levied by public hospitals for maternity services in order to enable expecting mothers to access and receive the care they need. She said that while she welcomed the opportunity of taking the platform to speak about healthcare needs in Kenya, she shared the vision together with other First Ladies who came before her to bring awareness and raise funds to support their humanitarian initiatives around the world.

On Tuesday, Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta witnessed the loading of a container of medical supplies and flagged it off   to its final destination, Kenya. “That seemed like such a seamless process of collecting, labeling, loading, and shipping. I know it takes dedicated time from the thousands of volunteers across the country- resources to ship the supplies to the destinations- coordination and management from the board and all this made possible through partnerships and solid relationships built along the way with people like you here today,” she observed with gratitude. Mrs. Kenyatta said that the partnerships and sponsors who were represented at the event means that charity can and does drive change. She added: “It also lends credence to the powerful idea that building a better world is good business any day.”

Sounding poetic in her speech , she said: “Each year, you demonstrate a willingness to give and treat people you have met, who live miles away, as though they are members of your family,” each year you come here, to hear about people’s challenges while committing to making personal services that make differences in their lives,” each year , when you hear about the big problems faced by citizens of great nations, you choose resilience over resignation, humble action over heedless apathy, and you choose love, the one sure way through which our world’s humanity is truly realized,” she noted to a thunderous applause.

The Kenyan first lady expressed her conviction that with the hosts of hard and daunting problems faced by men, women, children, young and old around the world that emerge each year, the only way to make headway in these challenges, is when people like you who support us take time to lift up your eyes from your own personal plight, and look for where you can share and mitigate the plight of others. “Thank you for being those people,” she said with glowing tribute.

Kenya’s ambassador to the United States Robinson Njeru Githae is the point man in the USA for the Beyond Zero campaign that was founded by Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta 2 years ago. Project cure coordinated the Kenyan Diaspora and Americans of goodwill to support the Beyond Zero initiative.

 

The chairwoman of the East Africa Chamber of Commerce (EACC) Elsa Juko-McDowell who met the Kenyan first lady at the First Lady’s fundraising Luncheon at the JW Marriott Scottsdale and at Arizona State University event, Mrs. Mcdowell expressed her readiness to continue supporting the mission of the Beyond Zero Campaign.

 

Mrs. Cindy McCain, who chaired the event, reiterated her commitment to supporting the project by the Kenyan First Lady and offered to do everything possible to ensure that mothers and kids in Kenya get the care they need.  It was resolved by all in attendance to spread the word and encourage all those who hear about this campaign call to make a contribution to the urgent need of saving the lives of expectant mothers and their babies in Kenya. The Kenyan first lady, Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta, who arrived in the USA, last Tuesday, returned home over the weekend.