The government has dispatched the third consignment of health kits to support the work of Community Health Promoters in Taita Taveta county.
The consignment of 1,288 cartons has essential commodities such as a first aid box, clinical thermometer, measuring tape, blood pressure machine, blood sugar machine and medicine box.
This is in addition to phones that had already been distributed to assist with digital reporting.
The commodities will help CHPs address non-communicable diseases, childhood illnesses and other minor ailments.
Health Services director Elvis Mwandawiro said CHPs are the engines behind the provision of community health services in the realisation of the universal health coverage.
He attributed the support to a successful strategic partnership between the devolved unit and health partners.
“The partnership has led to improved healthcare services at the community level. Our agenda is to support the community health team that plays a vital role in the health care system,” Mwandawiro said.
He spoke on Monday at Mwatate Subcounty Hospital while receiving the consignment.
Mwandawiro said the health department will prioritise capacity building of CHPs to ease pressure on the health facilities and improve service delivery.
Mirriam Wakio, the County Community Health Services coordinator praised the government’s effort in supporting CHPs.
She said CHPs play a crucial role in screening for non-communicable diseases, referrals and links to care-enhancing primary healthcare at the grassroots.
“Their services cannot go unnoticed because of their role in advancing healthcare services at the community level. We are looking forward to more support to ensure sustainability of the programme,” Wakio said.
The Health Services department trained CHPs on how to use mobile phones to collect data.
“The electronic community health information system-enabled phones are set to shift healthcare programmes from analogue to digital, spearheading advanced community healthcare provision,” she said.
Wakio urged CHPs to promote and create demand for health services across all levels for early referrals and prompt diagnosis and management of diseases.
She asked the team to sensitise the community on the utilisation of latrines in every household to reduce the spread of hygiene-related diseases.
This comes at a time when the county is planning to celebrate 16 villages certified and declared Open Defecation Free in Mwatate Subcounty.
ODF celebrations are held to celebrate the achievements by the villages in climbing the sanitation ladder after a vigorous activity referred to as community Led Total Sanitation.
