The Role of Medical Camps in Ensuring Equity in Accessing Health Care Services in Kenya

Abstract

This study was carried out to help improve the management and organization of the medical camps in Kenya by the various key stakeholders thus enabling the medical camps achieve the overall goal of enabling access of quality affordable health care services to the disadvantaged and marginalized population in Kenya in acknowledgement that equity in the accessing and provision of health care services is an underlying principle intertwined in the human rights principles. Everyone irrespective of their social and economic status are entitled to a standard of health that is enjoyed by majority of the advantaged populations within a society and deliberate multi-disciplinary efforts need to be taken to ensure access of quality affordable health care services for all. Medical camps organized by public sector, private and Non-governmental organizations are initiatives aimed at achieving the goal of availing high standard of health to especially the vulnerable and disadvantaged populations in a community. This study sought to establish the role of medical camps in ensuring equity in accessing health care services in Kenya. The study targeted 500 patients who attended a medical camp, mounted by Embu County Government, one of the 47 county governments in Kenya, in Karaba, Mbeere South Sub-County on 1^st of November 2019. A total of 50 respondents were sampled which was 10% of the total population as it was not possible to involve all the patients due to time and cost constraints. A convenience sampling technique was employed where the study relied on information provided by willing respondents.

The data was collected using a structured interview schedule comprising of both closed and open-ended questions. The data was analysed using factor analysis by use of SPSS software. Descriptive statistics in form of frequencies and percentages were used. The findings revealed that there was 100% response rate where majority of the respondents were female. It was notable that majority of those who attended the medical camp were vulnerable persons most of them with primary level of education, unemployed and earning a meagre monthly income of estimated US$ 139. The findings established that the medical camp was well planned and organized. The location was convenient to majority of the respondents; it was easy to locate and navigate through and majority resided within 5 kilometres of the venue. The majority of the respondents were to a great extent satisfied with services offered, level of professionalism and friendliness of the health professionals, proximity of the medical camp; hygiene and as well as free services. The study therefore concluded that to a great extent medical camps ensure equity in accessing health care services among the disadvantaged populations and recommended that such medical camps be organized on a regular basis. The study also recommended that consideration be given to build the capacity of local health staff to enable them offer follow up services after medical camps are offer. Expanding and equipping health facilities should also be a priority given that not all services could be offered during medical camps such as complicated major surgeries.