MOMBASA, Kenya—More than 7,500 patients have sought medical attention at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital under Mombasa County’s Baba Care initiative, which provides free treatment at public health facilities throughout October.
The hospital’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mohamed Hanif, said the programme had increased demand for medical services, with patients seeking treatment for various conditions without paying fees under the initiative.
The programme was introduced by Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir in honour of the late former ODM leader Raila Odinga, extending free medical care across the county’s public health facilities for the month.
Hanif commended the county government for recruiting additional healthcare workers at Coast General and other public hospitals, saying the additional personnel would help strengthen staffing and improve service delivery as more patients seek care.
The increased demand places a spotlight on the capacity of public hospitals to provide timely and accessible services, particularly when the cost of treatment remains a concern for many households.
Meanwhile, Said Kibwana, one of the healthcare workers recruited under the programme, welcomed the initiative, saying it could serve as an example of efforts to improve access to medical services.
Baba Care is scheduled to run throughout October, offering residents access to free treatment at Mombasa County’s public health facilities while honouring Raila Odinga’s legacy.
