The County Government of Kilifi may soon recruit community health volunteers to facilitate the realization of the envisaged Universal Health Coverage (UHC) policy.
The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health, Dr. Anisa Omar, said the plan targeted to minimize the spread of communicable diseases mainly attributed to poor hygiene practices.
Dr. Anisa said the county government had already developed a health strategic plan to recruit the volunteers, who will receive stipends in an effort to making the UHC policy a success.
Speaking to reporters after launching a health awareness campaign in Gongoni ward on Wednesday, Dr. Anisa said it was necessary for community health volunteers to be given incentives if the policy is to succeed.
“We have already developed a health strategic plan which we will soon present to the County Executive Committee and the County Assembly for adoption,” Dr. Anisa said adding, “It is only through giving the volunteers incentives that we can properly implement the UHC policy.”
She announced that her department had embarked on an aggressive health awareness campaign in Magarini Sub-County to sensitize residents on the importance of observing hygiene and proper sanitation.
She said the campaign had been prompted by inadequate sanitary facilities in the sub county, especially Gongoni Ward, which she said had a latrine coverage of only 55 percent.
The CEC said that area residents were at risk of contracting waterborne diseases due to the low latrine coverage especially during the rainy season.
“When people defecate outside their houses, their faeces are swept away by runoff water to water pans and wells thus increasing the risk of outbreaks of diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery and cholera,” Dr. Anisa said.
She urged those without toilets to build the sanitary facilities, noting that it was everyone’s responsibility to ensure that good hygiene is maintained in the community.
“We are creating awareness in the area by demonstrating to the residents on how to treat water so that they are able to do so on their own,” she said.
The Government of Kenya has prioritized the UHC in its Big 4 Agenda with a focus on preventive and primary health care.
By Jemimah Buya
