Improving Chronic Illness Screening & Care: Pana+Care’s Impactful Outreach on World Clubfoot Day
On June 3, 2025, to mark World Clubfoot Day, Pana+Care, an H2i international venture supported through the African Impact Challenge (AIC), hosted a one-day medical camp that put the spotlight on clubfoot awareness and chronic illness testing screening and care in underserved communities, with additional focus on diabetes and hypertension.
Held at the Rangwe Sub-county in partnership with the Homabay County Department of Health, the event drew 400+ community members, offering free consultations, medication and group education on chronic illnesses—while dedicating significant attention to clubfoot, diabetes and hypertension. The initiative brought together 40 healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and public health educators, in an effort to both treat and inform.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, chronic illness poses a significant and rising health threat, accounting for more than 60% of health facility deaths in 2024. Diabetes in particular was among the top ten causes for adults in health facilities the same year. Clubfoot is a congenital condition that, if left untreated, can lead to lifelong disability. In Kenya, approximately 1 in every 1,000 children is born with clubfoot, with thousands going untreated due to lack of access to early intervention—especially in rural areas like Homabay County.
“Pana+Care was born out of watching people struggle, not because there was no treatment, but because there was no system to help them manage life with a chronic illness,” said Pana+Care Founder Beverly Senda. I saw loved ones and neighbors face preventable complications, simply because they didn’t have access, support, or even someone to follow up. I started Panacare so that no one has to face that journey alone again.”
The event helped raise awareness not just among patients, but among local health workers who were trained to recognize and respond to the early signs of clubfoot and other chronic illnesses. By educating the community and strengthening local capacity, the outreach initiative laid the foundation for improved early detection and treatment in the region.
Pana+Care’s Project Manager, Mustafa Alsayed added, “The energy and enthusiasm from both the community members and our dedicated healthcare volunteers truly made the Pana+Care Medical Camp a resounding success. We not only exceeded our attendance goals but also made tangible steps towards our mission of improving community health by offering vital services and fostering health education.”
As a venture, Pana+Care bridges the gap by providing clinics with on-demand access to chronic illness specialists through a health-enabled consultation model. The platform allows local clinicians to connect with endocrinologists, cardiologists, and other specialists in real time ensuring accurate diagnoses and better outcomes in underserved areas.
Pana+Care extended its gratitude to the Ministry of Health of Homabay, Villgro Africa, African Impact Initiative, and the H2i team for their ongoing mentorship, funding, and belief in their work. The Health Entrepreneurship (HENT) AIC program is part of the broader Africa Health Collaborative (AHC), run in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. It aims to support innovative health ventures—such as Pana+Care—in transforming primary healthcare across Africa.
This medical camp also served as a foundation for Pana+Care’s next initiative, a day-long chronic illness outreach program, scheduled for August 30, 2025. Building on learnings from the camp, this follow-up event will focus on long-term care and support for individuals living with chronic conditions.