Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has flagged off Community Health Kits for Nyeri’s Community Health Promoters (CHPs) following the national launch of the Community Health Promoters programme by President William Ruto.
Speaking during the occasion held outside his office on Wednesday, Kahiga said that so far, Nyeri County has registered a total of 161,000 households against a target of 248,050, representing 65 per cent coverage.
He said Nyeri County received 2,510 kits to be distributed to each CHP, with each overseeing 100 households.
He said the kits would be crucial in upscaling household screening of non-communicable diseases, referral, and linkage to care-enhancing primary healthcare, noting that each of these kits is composed of: a salter scale, backpack bag, reflector jacket, MUAC tapes for adults and children, digital thermometer, gluometer, 1 pen for blood collection, 50 packets of blood lancet, 50 packets of test strips, BP Machine, CHP Badge (unique identifier), Weighing Scale, Timer, Flashlight, Torch, Water Bottle, Medicine Book (with 10 partitions), Reusable Waste Bag (Black}, Pocket Sharps Container, and a First Aid Box.
He said Community Health Promoters were key contributors to Universal Health Care as they played a crucial role in preventive and promotive health actions.
The CHPs are deployed in villages to create awareness of various health issues, treat minor ailments, and screen for hypertension and blood sugar at the household level. They also refer those found with elevated levels to the nearest health facility for further management and follow-up.
He added that in the spirit of digitising health and improving data for decision-making, the county government, in conjunction with the national government, has also trained and equipped every Community Health Promoter with a tablet that contains an Electronic Community Health information system (e-CHIS).
He said this gadget enables a CHP to collect and submit reports on various activities such as household registration, routine NCD screening, and referrals at the click of a button, thereby adopting paperless technology, a big milestone in reducing the burden of carrying bulky registers during household visits.
“The kits will further empower the community health soldiers and make them more effective in their community health roles,” said Kahiga.
“I wish to thank the national government, our partners, and key health stakeholders for this noble gesture towards empowering our CHPs. We appreciate your continued support towards promoting primary healthcare and look forward to mutual, bountiful, and sustainable collaboration,” added the governor.
Also present during the occasion was CEC Health Dr. Joseph Kiragu.
By Beth Ndirangu
