Kirinyaga County Governor Anne Waiguru has kitted 1,205 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in a bid to strengthen the provision of primary healthcare.
The governor said that CHPs programme will help reduce number of patients seeking healthcare services in hospitals.
She said the CHPs will be able to deal with minor ailments which do not need referrals.
“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,” Waiguru stated.
Speaking at Kerugoya County Referral Hospital grounds on Wednesday, the governor 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.
She said each CHP will be in charge of 100 households and will be linked to a health facility nearest the community that they are serving.
At the same time, she distributed 854 kits that contained essential commodities that would enable them to deliver services in their respective communities.
She said that the kits will help the CHPs undertake basic tests such as blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, body temperature, and child growth monitoring. They will also administer first aid and basic medicine such as dewormers and supplements.
The kits contain 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 among others. They will also receive tablets to enable them to document, store, and relay important data.
Waiguru pointed out that many of the CHPs have been working as community health volunteers.
She thanked them for their years of dedication and noted that under the current arrangement, they will each be receiving a Sh5,000 monthly stipend.
She said that her administration is focused on developing a good network of health facilities at the grassroots.
The county recently opened nine new dispensaries and is in the process of commissioning others.
Some of the recently opened dispensaries include Matandara, Riakithiga Laboratory, South Ngariama, Kamwana, Kiamwathi, Kianjiru, Umoja, Kiaumbui and Joshua Mbai laboratory.
