The Ministry of Health, in partnership with Amref Health Africa, World Bicycle Relief, and Buffalo Bicycles Kenya has empowered Kwale Community Health Promoters (CHPs) with 500 bicycles.
The initiative seeks to enhance the mobility and efficiency in delivering essential healthcare services at the community level.
Speaking during the event, Principal Secretary (PS) for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, stressed that improved mobility is vital in strengthening Primary Health Care (PHC) a key pillar of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
PS Muthoni noted that with the new bicycles, CHPs will be able to reach more households, conduct timely follow-ups, support disease prevention initiatives, and respond swiftly during health campaigns and outbreaks.
She said the bicycles help the healthcare workers overcome challenging terrains and reach distant communities with essential healthcare services.
The PS said community health workers are the backbone of the health system since they are closest to the community, living and working among their community and serving those around them.
“This initiative is designed to ease the mobility challenges faced by our frontline healthcare providers at the grassroots level,” she said.
The initiative reinforces the government’s commitment to empower CHPs with the tools, skills, and logistical support they need to ensure that every Kenyan regardless of location accesses quality healthcare without financial hardships.
She urged the grassroots healthcareproviders to take good care of the bicycles and use them responsibly. “These bicycles will make your work easier so please take good care of them,” she said.
Kwale Deputy Governor (DG) Chirema Kombo thanked the stakeholders for complementing the county government’s efforts in improving healthcare service delivery.
The DG described the initiative as a milestone in strengthening the county healthcare delivery services by enhancing the mobility and efficiency of CHPs, particularly in remote areas.
“Together with stakeholders we continue to advance the county’s vision of a healthier and more resilient Kwale,” he said.
Kombo said the bicycles will ease the movements of community health workers as they deliver services to the most vulnerable in far flung areas of the coastal county such as Kinango and Lunga Lunga sub counties.
“Our community health promoters will now be able to reach rural and hard-to-reach communities where access to reliable transport is often a major challenge,” he said.
The Deputy Governor said the 500 bicycles build on the successful rollout of 100 bicycles in 2024 which enhanced CHPs’ mobility and significantly improved primary healthcare delivery, household coverage and Social Health Authority enrolment drives.
AMREF International’s representative, Dr Meshack Ndirangu, expressed gratitude to both the national and county governments for their strong partnership, which he said has made it possible to deliver effective healthcare services to local communities.
Dr. Ndirangu said the modern bicycles will enable the CHPs to reach more households and provide essential health care services such as antenatal care, immunisation, nutrition, and disease prevention among others.
He said the bicycles will also help the community health workers to transport referrals, collect data and attend health training.
Maurine Kolenyo from World Bicycle Relief, one of the key partners in the initiative, encouraged the CHPs to make maximum use of the bicycles to reach more households at the grassroots level.
Kolenyo said the donation also reflects World Bicycle Relief’s commitment to improving healthcare outcomes, promoting well-being, and fostering sustainable development and community empowerment in the remotest and most vulnerable areas.
Representing the CHPs, Rajab Ondo from Magutu village in Matuga sub-county expressed gratitude on behalf of the beneficiaries, saying the bicycles will help them serve their communities better.
He expressed appreciation to the county and national governments and partners for empowering them with the essential tools and equipment needed to improve their work. “We have been empowered to serve our people better,” he said.
By Hussein Abdullahi
