Kajiado County Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) have received comprehensive medical kits worth Sh10 million to enable them deliver services effectively.
The medical equipment donated by Enai Africa, a Non-Governmental Organization, will aid a total of 1,000 CHVs in identifying and treating non-communicable diseases at the household level.
Enai Africa Executive Director Dr. Lanoi Parmuat, underscored the important role played by CHVs in supporting health care initiatives at the grassroots.
Parmuat noted that the CHVs were the first line in delivering health services to vulnerable populations as they linked communities to the health care systems.
She revealed her organization was committed to supporting the County Government in delivering quality healthcare and so far, they had trained 1,500 CHVs.
“The CHVs play a crucial role in the community as they assist in provision of health care services at the households. The medical kits will enable them to conduct their work with ease thus ensuring residents receive the necessary health care,” said Parmuat.
The Director further revealed that the on-going drought had greatly affected expectant and lactating mothers, children under the age of five and the elderly with malnutrition levels on the rise due to lack of food.
She added that the CHVs through home visits were able to identify cases of severe malnutrition thus ensuring that those affected are assisted.
The Community Health Volunteers make home visits and deliver health promotion messages, treat common ailments and illnesses, and establish protocols for Community-Based Maternal and Newborn Health.
They are involved in preventive measures, trained and equipped to manage childhood ailments, such as malaria, diarrhoea, pneumonia and malnutrition
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.
CHVs are supervised by Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) and operate within Community Health Units covering about 100 households.
According to County Executive Committee Member for Health Alex Kilowua CHVs play an integral role in the community and their work has enabled improvements in child immunization, antenatal visits, testing and treatment of non-communicable diseases among others.
He reiterated the County Government’s commitment in providing quality health care to the residents adding that the CHVs will be supported to enable them to provide services efficiently.
By Rop Janet
