Kajiado County Government has allocated Sh 11 million towards payment of stipends to Community Health Volunteers (CHVs).
Deputy Governor Martin Moshisho said the volunteers have been working without any salary and the stipend will motivate and enable them to continue providing effective healthcare services.
Speaking at Isinya Health Centre when he received medical kits worth Sh10 Million for use by 1000 CHVs from donors, the DG revealed that the national government has topped up an extra Sh11 million towards their payment.
“We have allocated Sh11 million for the CHVs and the national government has topped up the amount with another Sh 11 million so we have a total of Sh22 million to pay the CHVs. Plans are at an advanced stage to start paying the CHVs a monthly Stipend,” clarified the DG.
Moshisho underscored the crucial role played by the CHVs in supporting healthcare initiatives at the grassroots level.
The Community Health Volunteers who are involved in preventive measures are trained and equipped to manage childhood ailments, such as malaria, diarrhoea, pneumonia and malnutrition.
They make home visits and deliver health promotion messages, treat common ailments and illnesses, and establish protocols for Community-Based Maternal and Newborn Health.
The volunteers are able to identify an outbreak of diseases such as cholera and refer the patients to the nearest health facility for specialized treatment.
The medical kits donated to the CHVs to aid in their work include blood pressure machines, thermometers, pen torches, and glucometers among others.
Moshisho noted that the CHVs who are well-trained can now conduct some medical tests free of charge at the comfort of their home, market, or any other convenient place.
By Rop Janet
