Kiambu County Director of Public Health, Teresiah Njoroge is advocating for the inclusion of public health training as part of life skills in education.
Speaking today while launching a public health campaign dubbed “Learning for Life (L4L),” Njoroge asserted that such a move will improve the health and overall well-being of young people.
During the ceremony held in Kiambu town, the director said the department has partnered with Amref Health Kenya and the Mastercard Foundation to lay the foundation for training and mentorship in medical and community health services.
The programme is set to equip the youth with essential skills in healthcare that will help create sustainable employment opportunities and strengthen healthcare systems.
“In many communities across Kenya, a visit to a healthcare facility often means long waits, overburdened staff, and, in some cases, no doctor at all. We are facing a staggering health workforce crisis. Despite shouldering 24% of the global disease burden, Africa has only 3% of the world’s health workers and this disparity threatens millions of lives while weakening existing health systems.” Said Njoroge.
“All that can change however if the youth who make up the nation’s largest demographic segment are equipped with the skills, opportunities and support that they need to strengthen the health systems and secure meaningful employment.” Added the director.
“We are fortunate enough to be a part of this programme that will provide competency-based training and equip the beneficiaries with practical skills to serve in hospitals, dispensaries and community health programs, not just in Kenya but across the continent,” she explained.
The training will focus on a progressive three-part strategy designed to cultivate lasting health careers and robust local systems in workforce development, health entrepreneurship and health ecosystems.
Additionally, the programme will also support entrepreneurship in the health sector, empowering young medical professionals to establish and manage their own health-related enterprises.
According to the Director, the L4L programme targeting youth in Kenya, Senegal, and Zambia is expected to deliver essential healthcare skills over three years.
She said the initiative is designed to revolutionize healthcare by generating employment opportunities, broadening access to care in underserved regions, and strengthening health systems throughout Africa via workforce development and robust policy frameworks.
By Hellen Lunalo
