25 June 2015

 

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has welcomed the St John motorcycle ambulance project to boost maternal health in areas without adequate infrastructure.

 

Mrs Kenyatta commented the project will complement her 'Beyond Zero' campaign that is aimed at eradicating maternal and child deaths in the country.

 

I am encouraged that St John Ambulance has made safe pregnancy one of its top priorities,

the First Lady said.

 

She spoke during the 87th annual St John Inspection Parade at KICC, Nairobi on Sunday 22 June. The occasion is used to celebrate the ambulance services provider's achievements in the past year. The First Lady also commended the organisation for establishing 18 rescue centres at notorious accident black spots across the country to offer emergency medical care to accident victims.

 

Stocked with life-support equipment and firefighting gear, the centres will improve the county's emergency referrals and disaster response,

she said.

Mrs Kenyatta also called on Kenyans to obey traffic rules and be courteous to other road users to prevent road accidents. She also stressed the need for training more Kenyans to offer first aid during emergencies.

 

St John Ambulance Chief Commander Eliakim Masale said the organisation is undergoing restructuring to align itself to the Constitution.

 

Mr Masale appealed to retired medical workers to join St John Ambulance volunteer service as they can assist with providing first aid within the community.

 

Present at the Inspection Parade were Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia and Prior of St John Kenya Marsden Madoka.