The government has underscored its commitment to improving the work of Community Health Promoters (CHPs) across the country in order to realize universal health coverage.
Speaking in Trans Nzoia during the launch of the County Community Health Workers Savings SACCO at Kitale Showground, Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, who also doubles up as Cabinet Secretary Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, commended CHPs for their instrumental role in promoting community health and supporting Universal Health Coverage.
Saying that the recommendable work done by the CHPs has earned the country recognition globally, Mudavadi added the national government will continue to improve their working conditions by ensuring provision of modern and better equipment.
“Every Kenyan should emulate the example you have set, you have done excellent work and received international recognition. In the President’s agenda for Universal Health Coverage, you have the utmost priority and you have done excellent work,” Mudavadi said.
For more effective and efficient service delivery, Mudavadi said more capacity building programmes will be lined up for the CHPs.
“We want to continue building capacity by working together to improve the health of all Kenyans. We want to increase funding systematically, so that you receive better equipment and through the Ministry of Health we want to have more training programmes for CHPs so they can advance in their careers,” he said.
During the launch, a total of Sh1.2 was contributed and is expected to improve the economic welfare and operational capacity of frontline preventive health workers.
Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, Susan Nakhumicha, called on the national and county governments to increase CHPs stipends and ensure timely payments.
“I have examined the county’s health budget. Why was money removed from the health budget and allocated elsewhere? I call on the county government to restore those funds so that CHPs can be paid on time,” she said.
Trans Nzoia Senator, Allan Chesang, urged the National Government to provide health insurance for CHPs and to employ them on permanent terms.
“Whenever I go to our villages to provide free medical services, the people I rely on are CHPs because they know every household. Given the current economic situation, CHPs should be employed on permanent terms and be fully covered by health insurance as they are looking after our lives,” he added.
Proceeds from the SACCO launch will be used to provide CHPs with essential work items including boots, raincoats and jackets to ease their work in the field.
Prior to the launch of the SACCO, Mudavadi opened a classroom block at Sikhendu Secondary School, inspected the ongoing construction of Kiminini modern market before meeting leaders drawn from Trans Nzoia and Western Kenya.
By Isaiah Nayika and Sandra Omondi
