A telemedicine programme in Kenya, run by Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation and the M-PESA Foundation, is expanding to five more counties. The programme, called Daktari Smart, aims to provide specialist paediatric care to underserved communities. Since its launch in 2021, Daktari Smart has already reached more than 27,000 children in Samburu, Homa Bay, Baringo, Narok, and Lamu counties. The programme allows healthcare workers to connect children with paediatric specialists at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital in Nairobi through remote consultations.
The second phase of Daktari Smart, dubbed “Daktari Smart: Beyond Technology”, will focus on increasing access to telemedicine and strengthening health systems. The programme targets more than 50,000 children across 10 counties by August 2027. The partners will train 800 healthcare workers and 1,150 community health promoters, while improving referral networks and working with county governments to take greater ownership of the service. This expansion aims to address challenges faced by families in underserved areas where specialist paediatric services may be far from their homes.
The Daktari Smart programme has already made a significant impact, with over 8,000 telemedicine sessions recorded in 2026. The programme provides a route to treatment for children requiring further care, with patients identified through remote consultations receiving free treatment at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital. Cases handled through the referral system have included cleft lip and palate, heart surgery, and management of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. The programme currently operates at six sites, with five more sites under construction ahead of planned service inception from October 2026.
The initiative has also been used to build specialist paediatric nursing skills in participating counties. Two nurses from Lamu have been sponsored to undertake specialised Paediatric Nurse Training. Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation says 205 nurses have so far received training nationally. The next phase is expected to add specialised paediatric oncology nursing training. This training will help ensure that children receive the right care at the right time.
Dr. Carol Waweru, Head of Impact Programmes at Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation, emphasized that the next phase of Daktari Smart will focus on strengthening the systems supporting the technology. The programme seeks to make specialist paediatric services more accessible to children regardless of where they live. The partners are also using data collected through Daktari Smart to study health-seeking behaviour, patient experiences, waiting times, and transport barriers.
The second phase of Daktari Smart will extend the programme to Turkana, Kwale, Vihiga, Laikipia, and Makueni counties. Lamu will also receive additional training at the community level. Healthcare workers and community health promoters will be equipped to identify children who may need specialist attention, begin referrals, and help families navigate the care process. The programme uses equipment such as electronic stethoscopes and high-resolution cameras to support consultations between healthcare workers and specialists.
The partners, including Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation, M-PESA Foundation, and Safaricom Foundation, are working together to ensure that telemedicine becomes a sustainable part of healthcare delivery. The programme has shown that technology can help address some of the barriers children and families face in accessing specialist healthcare. With the expansion, the partners aim to build on what they have learned and strengthen frontline health workers and referral pathways.
Key points
- The Daktari Smart programme aims to provide specialist paediatric care to more than 50,000 children across 10 counties by August 2027.
- The programme has already reached more than 27,000 children in Samburu, Homa Bay, Baringo, Narok, and Lamu counties since its launch in 2021.
- The second phase of Daktari Smart will focus on strengthening health systems and increasing access to telemedicine.
