Nyeri lays roadmap to boost provision of basic healthcare

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

Nyeri Governor, Mutahi Kahiga, said the lack of comprehensive Primary Health Care (PHC) policy in the country, has dented the 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," Kahiga said.

"The country  has witnessed an increased burden of non-communicable diseases and hence proposes several primary healthcare strategic objectives and interventions,"Kahiga said.

That is with regard to the provision of healthcare services, leadership,  governance, drugs, other medical supplies and financing of primary healthcare delivery.

This was during the opening of a two-day sensitisation workshop on primary health care for County Executives at the Sportsman’s Arms hotel in Nanyuki yesterday. 

Kahiga added that under PHC, the county government hopes to attain the provision of essential healthcare services.

They are to be accessible to individuals, acceptable to them and affordable according to Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

A PCN is an administrative health regime, comprising a primary healthcare referral facility and several other primary healthcare spokes.

It is 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, personalised, 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," Kahiga said.

Kahiga added that to support the PCN rollout and implementation, Nyeri county government commits to continued systems.

These strengthen health infrastructure, human resources for health and  procurement of medical equipment and supplies.

It also rolls out a robust and integrated electronic medical record system, where all facilities are connected on a digital platform.

By strengthening preventive and promotional health services through PHC, the county government hopes to shift the health agenda from curative to preventive services and from hospitals to the household unit.

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

The health department has already developed the 'Nyeri Primary Care Network Strategy 2024-27' to set up and operationalise primary care networks.

This strategy 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,"Kahiga said.

The Nyeri county boss believes that the community health programme will provide a platform for the successful roll-out and implementation of the primary health care networks. 

“With global policy on the transition of HIV/AIDs services funding to local governments, centres for disease control and prevention supports the PHC network model as an avenue that will allow greater participation of the communities in the running of health care service," Kahiga said.

That is, through prioritising their health issues as well as getting involved in the implementation of essential clinical and public health packages.

In its Sh8.7 billion 2024-25 Fiscal Budget, the county allocated a total of Sh3 billion to the health department, 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) Robert Thuo,  Sh200 million will go towards supplementing the purchase of drugs and non-pharmaceuticals for the county’s health facilities.

In addition, a total of Sh53 million was earmarked for renovations, infrastructural works, and the purchase of medical equipment for rural health facilities across the county.

This was in addition to Sh40 million to kick start the construction of Wamagana Level IV Hospital in Tetu Sub-county.