Emergency care serves a key function within health care systems by providing an entry point to health care and by decreasing morbidity and mortality. Although primarily focused on evaluation and treatment for acute conditions, emergency care also serves as an important locus of provision for preventive care with regard to injuries and disease  progression.

Despite its important and increasing role, however, emergency care has frequently been overlooked in the discussion of healthcare systems and delivery platforms in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) e.g. Kenya. Because of this, many LMICs suffer the highest rates of mortality from acute injuries, as well as from the acute complications of a range of other infectious and chronic diseases.