The Final Mile: Why Community-Centric Clinics Are the Future of Rural Care
In the global pursuit of Universal Health Coverage, one lesson continues to echo across nations and healthcare systems: care is not only about access—it’s about trust. Nowhere is this more evident than in rural Kenya, where decades of underinvestment and external interventions have left many communities sceptical of formal health systems. While infrastructure and innovation are essential, they cannot replace the power of relationships. To truly succeed in reaching the “final mile” of healthcare delivery, systems must be locally anchored, trust-driven, and community-centric. The Problem: When Healthcare Arrives, but Trust Doesn’t In many parts of rural Africa, including Kenya, health facilities may now be physically closer than ever before—thanks to infrastructure projects and mobile outreach. However, the utilisation of these services often remains low. Why? ● Past experiences of neglect or poor treatment have made communities hesitant to engage with...