Our Journey

2026

The first million-dollar year

The 2026–2027 budget passes a million dollars for the first time. Grand Challenges Canada commits CAD 640,000, matched 1:1 against every dollar donated.

33,026 people reached in the first half of the year, across 69 implementation sites — 17 health facilities, 30 schools and outreach in 22 villages.

The GCC Integrated Baseline is published in August: 895 students across 19 Lamu schools. Presented at the GCC IMNHC conference in Nairobi in March; Umra Omar at the Skoll World Forum in Oxford.

A partnership with the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust begins adapting the One Health model for Maasai pastoralist communities in the Chyulu Hills — the first replication beyond the coast.

2025

A decade, and the evidence to match

30,473 people reached across 18 villages and three counties, from a catchment of roughly 55,000. 12,760 patient visits; women 62% of those seen.

200 bicycles distributed with World Bicycle Relief, girls prioritised. Travel time to school down 47%, from 146 minutes to 77. Monthly transport cost down 98%.

Groundbreaking at Shungwaya Health Access Level 4 Hospital in July, the joint venture with Bomu Hospital.

26 schools, 236 peer-led sessions, 1,300 students in comprehensive sexuality education.

2024

Ten years, and three counties formalised

15,745 patients reached across 41 villages in Lamu, Garissa and Tana River, plus 1,561 at the Shela and Tchundwa medical centres.

Memoranda of understanding signed with the Garissa County and Tana River County departments of health.

Umra Omar named an Ashoka Fellow. A partnership with Pwani University begins, to strengthen monitoring, evaluation and research.

Albert Obbuyi joins as Deputy Director. A portable ultrasound machine is donated in May; 21 scans follow.

2023

Partnerships, and a second facility

Phase 1 of Shungwaya Health Access Level 4 Hospital completed, with Bomu Hospital.

A new outpost opens at Tchundwa on Pate Island, serving a population of 20,000 — consultations, maternal and child health, basic laboratory, pharmacy and health education.

A partnership with the University of California, Davis supports academic research and visiting clinicians.

Umra Omar speaks at DIHAD in Dubai, at the Young African Global Leaders Forum in Lagos, and at the Africa Health Agenda International Conference.

2022

The laboratory, and leadership from within

The laboratory is fully equipped and running: 764 tests in the year.

Mariamu Abdalla becomes acting Executive Director.

Villages served rise from 30 to 34. Revenue collected at the medical facility grows.

2021

One Health becomes the frame

The Safari Vets programme is revamped: the clinic equipped, registered and treating 3,075 animals.

A Medical Director joins, and One Health — human, animal and environmental health as one system — becomes central to the work.

Patient visits roughly double, from 7,599 in 2020 to 15,032. Specialist camps begin, with volunteer medics in dentistry, ophthalmology and maternal health.

2020

A pandemic, and a way through it

Outreach splits across two weeks, Lamu East and Lamu West, so more villages are reached more often.

Two clinical officers join; the Medical Centre passes its first public inspection.

The team receives a United Nations SDGs in Action Solidarity Award for its COVID-19 response. Umra Omar is named among the UN’s #RealLifeHeroes on World Humanitarian Day. Mariamu Abdalla wins Kenya’s Top 35 Under 35 Award for Health.

The partnership with Medic deepens; work with youth community health workers continues.

2019

The ambassadors begin

The Youth Health Ambassador programme takes off: structured training, seed grants and engagement with local schools.

Outreach scales to more remote villages. The team travels to the Netherlands for the NOW-US! Awards.

The Youth Football Cup final becomes a fixture in Lamu East.

2018

Mama Daktari

A fundraising campaign in the United States buys the medical boat Mama Daktari.

Safari Vets launches, extending the work to animal health. The first Youth Football Cup is held.

The Kiangwe Community Centre is renovated and opened. The first advisory board meeting is held, with organisational policies and a strategic planning session.

A conference facility and gift shop open as income-generating ventures.

2017

Twice as often

The frequency of medical outreach doubles. The team grows to eight, and takes its first intern.

A grant from Polish Aid funds a medical outpost. Youth programming begins — the foundation of the Youth Health Ambassadors.

Umra Omar and the team are named United Nations in Kenya Person of the Year.

2016

Noticed

Volunteer medics arrive from the county government and Doctors of the World. Motorbike outreach becomes regular; boat outreach moves to a fortnightly schedule.

Umra Omar is named a CNN Hero, bringing international attention to the work.

2015

Setting sail

Safari Doctors opens with a team of three and a modest office, reviving a medical aid route abandoned over security concerns.

CNN films the first outreach by dhow to six villages. CGTN Africa follows. Friends and family fund the first motorbike runs to villages the boat cannot reach.

The first grant arrives.