County lays roadmap to boost provision of basic health care

The County Government Nyeri plans to invest heavily in provision of basic services, to enable public easily access affordable primary health care.

Nyeri Governor, Mutahi Kahiga, said lack of comprehensive Primary Health Care (PHC) policy in the country, has dented provision of basic health needs for the public over the years, especially for people living in the rural areas.

Kahiga noted that the glaring gap has hampered efforts in combating other emerging health issues such as non-communicable diseases, both at the National and the County level.

“The PHC and Primary Care Networks (PCN) Strategy, is therefore aimed at renewing the public health focus in the sector, including strengthening the delivery of primary health care services. The country has witnessed an increased burden of non-communicable diseases and hence proposes several primary healthcare strategic objectives and interventions, with regard to the provision of healthcare services, leadership and governance, drugs and other medical supplies, and financing of Primary healthcare delivery.” said Kahiga during the opening a two-day sensitization workshop on Primary Health Care for CECs at the Sportsman’s Arms hotel in Nanyuki yesterday.

The County boss said under PHC, the County government hopes to attain provision of essential health care services that are accessible to individuals and acceptable to them and at a cost they can afford which is in line with Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

A PCN is an administrative health regime, comprising a primary health care referral facility and several other primary health care spokes, established to enable access to primary health care services for patients, as well as coordinate with other hospitals, to improve the overall operational efficiency of the network.

This enables the provision of proactive, personalized, coordinated and integrated social and health services.

“My government believes that PHC will build on our vision of “A Wealthy County, with, Healthy and Secure people for shared prosperity”. Our commitments are reflected in our 5-year County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) and demonstrated in the achievements we have made over the last seven years in the health sector. To support the PCN roll-out and implementation, the County Government of Nyeri commits to continued systems strengthening in health infrastructure, human resources for health, procurement of medical equipment and supplies and rolling out a robust and integrated electronic medical record system, where all facilities are connected on a digital platform, ”stated Kahiga.

By strengthening Preventive and Promotive health services through PHC, the County government hopes to among others, shift the health agenda from curative to preventive services and from the hospitals to the household unit.

The ambitious program will start right from the community, dispensaries and health centers and finally end up to the level 4 hospitals.

The Department of health has already developed the “Nyeri Primary Care Network Strategy 2024- 2027” to set up and operationalize primary care networks, a strategy, which  by  extension will play a key role in reversing the spread of non-communicable diseases.

“My government will ride on our very robust community health system that comprises 251 functional Community Health Units (CHUs) spread across all Sub- locations. We believe that our community health program will provide a platform for the successful roll-out and implementation of the primary health care networks,” observed the County Boss.

“With global policy on the transition of HIV/AIDs services funding to local governments, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention supports the Primary Health Care network model as an avenue that will allow greater participation of the communities in the running of health care services through prioritizing their health issues as well as getting involved in the implementation of essential clinical and public health packages.” He added.

In its Sh.8.7 billion 2024/2025 Fiscal Budget, the County allocated a total of Sh.3 billion to the Department of Health, making it the largest beneficiary of the County share.

According to the estimates presented before the County Assembly by Finance and Economic Planning Executive (CECM), Mr. Robert Thuo, out of the amount some Sh. 200 million will go towards supplementing the purchase of drugs and non-pharmaceuticals for the county’s health facilities.

In addition, a total of Sh 53 million was earmarked for renovations, infrastructural works, and

purchase of medical equipment for rural health facilities across the county.

This was in addition to Sh 40 million to kick start the construction of Wamagana Level IV Hospital in Tetu Sub-county.

By Samuel Maina