Link2Care, a Chinese non-governmental organisation, is partnering with Plus & Minus in Love, a youth-led initiative founded by a high school student from Connecticut, to deliver free medical check-ups to some of Kenya’s most vulnerable communities.
Their outreach activities target residents of Nairobi’s informal settlements, where local health facilities often lack even the most basic medical equipment. For two consecutive days this week, residents of Dandora lined up outside the Salvation Army compound to access these health services.
For many, this was the only opportunity in months, if not years, to obtain services such as ultrasound scans, lab tests, and specialist consultations. Inside, volunteer doctors and nurses moved between check-up stations while community health educators spoke with mothers about prenatal care.
“This is already the fourth activity we’ve had in Dandora,” explained Emma Gao of Link2Care, who has overseen the expansion of the outreach. “We’re like a one-day hospital. From registration to triage, consultation, lab tests, and radiology, we cover everything.”
“These communities lack resources, but they need us. So, we’re here,” she added.
Founded in 2023, Link2Care focuses on providing affordable primary healthcare to low- and middle-income communities in Kenya. Last year, it launched the “Echo Mums” programme, introducing accessible ultrasound services for expectant mothers.
Jeremy Peng, a student from Kent School in Connecticut, USA, who founded +&- in Love (Plus & Minus in Love) in September 2024, stepped into this initiative, with an aim to rally his peers around supporting young mothers in Kenya by raising awareness and sourcing funds, albeit small, for outreach activities that focus on the health of teenage mothers.
“I would say Kenya is my third home,” Peng said during his latest visit, where he spent three weeks assisting Link2Care. “Compared with money, I think hope is very important for teenagers. I don’t want to just help them; I want to walk with them, to assist them, and to share what I have so they can have a better quality of life.”
Peng, who has personally contributed funds from his own savings, says the resilience of the women he meets inspires him.
“What I feel is the power of a teenager, the power of a woman. Women are strong. Women have the ability. They can generate new life. That motivates me to keep doing this,” he said.
For local residents, the outreach is more than welcome. Eunice Wanjiru, a pregnant mother from Dandora, described the free services as a lifeline.
“Sometimes when we visit our local dispensary, we are told that maybe the equipment is not working or that there are no medical resources. Free medical services really help people in informal settlements who cannot afford hospital fees,” she said.
George Kimani Waithaka, another resident, echoed her sentiment, saying: “It helps people and communities like ours. Our nearby facilities lack some medical equipment, and we are forced to seek services elsewhere. This is good. It’s important for us to know our health status.”
The residents expressed trust in the Chinese team leading the initiative, citing China’s track record in Kenya’s infrastructure development.
“The Chinese are good at road and bridge construction. I trust them because they always do a good job,” George said. Eunice added, “I believe they will do a good job in the health sector as well.”
For Link2Care, such feedback validates its mission. “We envision a world where every mama matters,” Gao notes. “Within these communities, people are in pain, and they need resources. Every time we’re here, we are welcomed.”
According to Gao, Link2Care’s mission is rooted in China’s own experience in transforming its healthcare system. She believes initiatives such as the latest outreaches provide Kenya’s underserved communities with access, dignity, and hope.
“When we introduce ourselves as an organization from China that focuses on primary healthcare, we always mention that 20 or 30 years ago, China was still a receiving country in terms of medical healthcare. But then, just within 10 years, around 2010, China immediately became one of the biggest donating countries in terms of medical healthcare in the world,” Gao noted.
“We’ve always considered that China is one of the best examples for low- and middle-income countries to develop their medical services, and we feel that China is now ready to help these countries by sharing our experiences and resources,” she added.
