Preventive health care is the short-cut to UHC – Malombe

Kitui has embraced preventive health care to help achieve Universal Health Care and equity in health care access, Governor Julius Malombe has said.

Speaking on Friday at Kyuso Stadium in Mwingi North subcounty, he said previously, emphasis was given to curative services.

“This paradigm shift to focus attention on the preventive and promotive approach is not only a step towards the realisation of Universal Health Care but also an approach to ensure equity in health service delivery,” the governor said.

Malombe said in line with his The Kitui Promise agenda, health care service will become accessible to all through the entrenching of community health services hinged on Community Health Promoters based in villages.

“I have outlined my government's commitment to renewing the public health focus from the costly and often inaccessible curative services to preventive and promotive health services through strengthening of community health services,” Malombe said.

Malombe was the chief guest during a ceremony to donate 370 bicycles to CHPs in the sub county.

Every CHP rode home on a bicycle that costs Sh30,000.

Kitui South CHP Caroline Muithi demonstrated how to ride the Buffalo Brand bicycles, much to the delight of the crowd.

The bicycles will go a long way in improving mobility to the CHPs.

They were donated by World Bicycle Relief through a partnership with the Catholic Medical Missions Board NGO.

Malombe praised CHPs for the incredible and invaluable work they were doing at household level.

He said they are the engine behind healthier communities in Kitui.

They conduct health education, disease prevention and control, environmental health and hygiene, psychosocial support, palliative care and referrals.

The governor said the bicycles given to CHPs will allow them to reach more households within a short time and effectively deliver vital health services.

Maureen Kolenyo, the World Bicycle Relief regional director, described the bicycle as the solution for mobility in the health sector not only for CHPs but other health sector personnel with mobility challenges.

“As you do your honourable job as CHPs, remember that we are with you to ensure that you are supporting the community and the households desiring your support,” she told the health workers.

She said to ensure that the 800 bicycles are well maintained, already her organisation had set up a shop in Kitui, where spares could be accessed.

CMMB country director James Kisia said his organisation was ready to continue partnering with the county government to solve the myriad of issues afflicting the populace.

“We will continue to partner with you in the area of maternal child health, non-communicable diseases, cancer and water and sanitation,” he told Malombe.

“We will work closely with your officers, ministers, chief officers to achieve the vision you have for Kitui.”