A medical officer carries out an eye examination on a resident during the Kipevu free medical camp in Changamwe, one of several services, including vision screening and free reading glasses, designed to help children and adults who struggle to see the board, read or work comfortably. Photo by Andrew Mbuva. 
By Andrew Mbuva
More than 2,000 residents of Changamwe, Mombasa County, benefitted from a major free medical outreach on Saturday, bringing critical healthcare services directly to vulnerable communities who often struggle to access treatment.
The one-day medical camp, held at Kipevu Primary School, was organised by Asharami Synergy Limited Kenya in partnership with digital health provider Zuri Health and the County Government of Mombasa. Asharami Synergy is a subsidiary of the Sahara Group, a leading international energy and infrastructure conglomerate.
The initiative provided a full suite of life-saving medical services, easing the financial burden that has long kept many residents—especially the elderly, women, and children—away from health facilities. Beneficiaries received specialist consultations, diagnostics, nutrition advice, screening for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension and diabetes, dental care, women’s health services, cancer screening, mental health support, eye checks with free reading glasses, child care, and geriatric support. All services and medicines were offered at no cost.
Asharami Synergy Limited Kenya Supplies and Operations Supervisor Lavina Gonah said the camp was designed to take healthcare “to the people who need it most.”
“A healthy community means a wealthy nation,” Gonah said. “What started as a one-day camp has become a gateway to continuous care. Residents here no longer have to choose between paying for food and paying for treatment, and we plan to replicate this model in more counties across Kenya.”
She thanked the Mombasa County leadership and local health workers for supporting efforts to take medical services to the community’s doorstep.
The camp operated as a “last-mile” health intervention, delivering a full package of services directly to the community rather than waiting for patients to seek out healthcare facilities—an approach that organisers say is crucial for low-income areas where out-of-pocket health costs remain a major barrier.
Zuri Health Head of Business Development Meshack Mutende said the impact of the initiative extended beyond the day’s consultations.
“This is a special day because healthcare has come closer to home for the most vulnerable,” he said. “Chronic patients with diabetes and hypertension have been enrolled into our continuous care programme, giving them ongoing access to doctors and medication at no cost, thanks to our partnership with Asharami Synergy and supporters such as Boringa Angel Home.”
Mutende added that Zuri Health’s digital platforms will help monitor patients through follow-up calls, reminders, and remote consultations.
For many residents, the medical camp was transformative. Catherine Musembi, an elderly beneficiary, said she had endured prolonged pain due to the high cost of medication, despite visiting multiple hospitals. At the camp, she received a full set of medicines at no charge and was linked to further care.
Peter Mwangi, a worker from Changamwe, described the initiative as “lifesaving” after receiving treatment for long-standing chest and dental complications that he had been unable to address due to financial constraints.
Organisers said the largest disease burden recorded at the camp came from NCDs, particularly hypertension and diabetes, as well as arthritis, asthma and other chronic conditions—underscoring the urgent need for sustained preventive care in economically vulnerable communities.
Asharami Synergy said the Kipevu medical camp is part of Sahara Group’s wider strategy to connect health, sustainability, and inclusive growth across its areas of operation. After conducting similar interventions in Nairobi, the company plans to scale the programme to more counties in partnership with innovators like Zuri Health and county health departments.
“Today’s turnout shows both the depth of unmet need and the trust communities have in these partnerships,” Gonah said. “Our commitment is that this will not be a one-off activity. Families in Changamwe, and in other parts of Kenya, can count on us to walk with them on their health journey.”
