Since 2015, the dedicated Safari Doctors team and our medical volunteers have worked tirelessly to provide healthcare services where otherwise there would be none. The indigenous Aweer and Bajuni communities who live near Kenya’s border with Somalia have suffered from neglect and insecurity, due to the presence of Al-Shabaab militants in the surrounding area. The threat of attacks and an ongoing military operation to flush out the militants have severely impeded their access to healthcare.
Each month, we make the journey, or “safari”, by sea and road to provide basic and preventive health services. We can reach around 10,000 people through our monthly mobile outreach clinics.
So far, we have treated over 3,800 patients across 17 villages. Child immunizations are up 40%, skin conditions are down 30%, the number of expectant mothers visiting clinics for antenatal appointments has doubled, demand for contraception has too and communicable diseases have dropped by half.
For more details visit www.safaridoctors.org and check out our founder Umra at the CNN Heroes Tribute