KEPSA Foundation, in partnership with the Office of the First Lady ‘Mama Doing Good’ Program, on 19^th April 2023, donated assorted household items and flower bouquets to celebrate women at the Maternity wing of Kenyatta National Hospital. The donations were courtesy of KEPSA members; BIDCO Africa Ltd, Elgon Kenya, Optiven Foundation, and Oliver K.

The KEPSA Foundation delegation was led by the Executive Director, Ms. Gloria Ndekei; Trustees, Arch. Lee Karuri and Ms. Lucy Karume, among other KEPSA Network members, while Kenyatta National Hospital was led by the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Evanson Kamuri. Gracing the occasion was the Chief Executive Officer, Office of the First Lady ‘Mama Doing Good’ program, Dr. John Chumo.

Dr. Chumo appreciated the partnership that the ‘Mama Doing Good’ program has with KEPSA Foundation that has enabled the actualization of the visit to Kenyatta National Hospital, and other initiatives towards advancing climate change action and the socio-economic empowerment of women in the country. He highlighted that ‘Mama Doing Good’ Program has over 11,000 women groups across the country that are being supported for enhanced livelihood & financial inclusion, and empowerment to further embrace climate change action through tree planting and clean cooking solutions.

As part of the way forward, Dr. Chumo proposed that the tripartite partnership of KEPSA Foundation, Office of the First Lady, and Kenyatta National Hospital can consider a program that will target to undertake cervical and breast cancer screening among women in the 11,000 groups for early detection and management, thus improving their quality of life.

Ms. Ndekei, in her remarks, highlighted that the KEPSA Foundation programs speak to four priority areas. These are; Women Leadership and Children, Community Outreach & Partnerships, Governance, and Climate Change & Sustainability which are in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. She reiterated the importance of partnerships in achieving greater impact on the people and planet.

Dr. Kamuri appreciated the kind gesture extended to Kenyatta National Hospital by the partners and expressed his desire for continued partnership. The Director Nursing Services, Ms. Raheli Mukhwana noted that the KNH maternity wing offers specialised and patient-centred care to over 10,000 women annually.

Other KEPSA Foundation and Network leaders took to appreciate the women in the maternity wing acknowledging the role that women play in bringing life and caring for the families underscoring the need to providing further support to women in order to realize their optimal potential. 

The meeting concluded with a tree planting session in line with the hospital initiative of planting a tree for every child born in the facility, and contributing to the government’s target of planting 15 Billion trees to achieve 30% forest cover by 2032.