A cohort of 1,222 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) has been equipped with the skills and resources to bolster primary healthcare delivery in Kirinyaga County.

The two-week training, a collaborative effort between the county and national governments, focused on the use of electronic health information systems and basic medical procedures.

Governor Anne Waiguru, who commissioned the CHPs eight months ago, emphasized their pivotal role in community healthcare.

“By taking health services closer to the people, we empower communities to take ownership of their health and well-being,” she stated.

The county government has provided the CHPs with essential medical kits and mobile devices to facilitate data collection and transmission.

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Recognising the financial challenges faced by these frontline workers, Governor Waiguru expressed gratitude to the National Government for introducing a monthly stipend. 

County Executive Committee Member for Health, George Karoki, highlighted the positive impact of the CHPs on healthcare access.

Since their deployment, referrals to hospitals have increased as more people are diagnosed with previously undetected conditions.

Karoki appealed for the expedited distribution of the remaining medical kits to enhance the CHPs’ capacity.

Principal Secretary for Health, Mary Muthoni, underscored the importance of CHPs in advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

She outlined the training curriculum, which covers maternal and child health, disease prevention, and basic water treatment.

“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,” Muthoni stated.

Muthoni commended the CHPs’ dedication and the strides made in improving community health outcomes.

CHP representatives, Cyrus Kibingo and Rachael Njambi, expressed their appreciation for the training and the financial support.

They emphasized the positive impact of their enhanced skills and resources on the communities they serve.

The initiative to train and equip CHPs in Kirinyaga County marks a significant step towards improving healthcare accessibility and outcomes in the region.