Kirinyaga County Government trains over 1,000 Community Health Promoters

The County Government of Kirinyaga has trained 1,222 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in its bid to enhance their capacity to perform their role in delivery of primary healthcare within the county.

The two weeks training that has been collaboratively facilitated by the County and National Government and other partners involved training the CHPs on use of Electronic Health Information Systems among other aspects of health service. The electronic system enables them to communicate and transmit data between them and health facilities. The CHPs have also been trained on undertaking basic tests and on making referrals where necessary.

The CHPs were commissioned by Governor Anne Waiguru eight months ago and deployed to the various Community Health Units within the county. Medical kits containing of essential commodities such as a First Aid Box, weighing scale, clinical thermometer, measuring tape, blood pressure machine, blood sugar machine, medicine box, and a flashlight have also been issued to the team. There was also a mobile gadget to enable them to document, store, and relay important data.

The Governor observed that the CHPs form a critical component of healthcare service delivery in the county since they are the first point of contact for patients in the community.

“We are committed to putting in place sound health systems that ensure that our people access affordable comprehensive care ranging from disease prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. By taking health services closer to the people, we enable communities to identify their health priorities, and participate in the planning and delivery of services thus playing an active role in maintaining their own health and well-being,” she said. She expressed her gratitude to the National Government for partnering with the county government to give a monthly to the CHPs who have been working on volunteer basis.

Speaking during the training session held at Kerugoya, the County Executive Committee Member for Health, George Karoki, observed that the since the deployment of the CHPs in the communities, the number of referrals to the hospitals has increased. This is due to the fact that through basic tests such as blood pressure and blood sugar, many people with previously undetected ailments have been diagnosed and put on relevant treatment.

Karoki appreciated the National Government’s support to the CHP program which included issuance of 854 kits and phones and requested for the disbursement of the remaining kits to enhance performance of the rest of CHPS.

The Principal Secretary for Health, Ms. Mary Muthoni, who was on a monitoring visit at the training venue emphasized the central role that the CHPs play in advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across the region. She said that her department was committed to training of all cadres of health workers.

“For now we are training CHPs on basic module of healthcare including mother and child health, use and distribution of dewormers and basic water treatment methods among others,” she said, observing that the shared arrangement to have the CHPs given a stipend has gone a long way in alleviating some of the challenges which they previously faced.

She commended the CHPs’ commitment and the important part they play in enhancing health outcomes at the community level.

Cyrus Kibingo, a CHP from Karia Unit said that the capacity building had enabled them perform some of the functions that they could not perform previously. He also thanked the government for giving them a stipend which has also gone a long way in enhancing their operations.

“We are now enlightened and equipped to carry out certain tests such as blood pressure, blood sugar and make the relevant referrals. All these years we worked without any facilitation but now we have some stipend for which we are grateful,” he said.

Rachael Njambi, a Community Health Promoter from Kiaritha also noted that the two weeks training had equipped them with the relevant knowledge that they will share with their community as far as health matters are concerned.