Murang'a to hire 4,000 community health volunteers

The Murang’a county government will hire 4,000 community health volunteers to implement programmes at the grassroots.

Governor Irungu Kang’ata on Sunday met the volunteers at Gakoigo grounds in Maragua where he announced the plans and outlined how they will be engaged.

The previous regime engaged about 1,500 volunteers who received a monthly stipend of Sh2,000.

But Kang’ata suspended the programme soon after he was sworn in, explaining that their payment had been flagged severally by the Auditor General as they were not anchored on any legal framework.

The passing of Murang’a County Health Policy 2022-2027 late last month, however, made it possible for the devolved unit to work with the volunteers.

The CHVs will not receive a monthly stipend, Kang’ata said, but will get allowances once they are engaged in activities. The county will source for sponsors to fund their remuneration.

In January, Kang’ata said he will partner with the World Bank to have the volunteers trained and thereafter, a schedule will be released on the activities that will require their support.

The volunteers will be required to elect coordinators in their villages who will liaise with the county government on their behalf.

The governor also commissioned the free NHIF programme, dubbed ‘Kang’ata Care’, that will benefit over 20,000 homesteads.

The programme that has prioritised homes led by people aged over 60 years who suffer from chronic illnesses, homes led by orphans, those led by single parents or people with disability.

Kang’ata said he plans to expand the programme next year and that it will be benefiting 10,000 extra homes each year.

The programme offers in-patient and out-patient services to beneficiaries including dental and oprtical services, and last expense insurance to help them bury their loved ones.

“They will be required to produce a burial permit and the funds will be released to them two days later,” he said.

He however noted that a number of applicants were found to already be registered with NHIF and will not benefit from the programme.

A list of the beneficiaries will be disbursed across the county and a link sent to residents’ mobile phones to help them confirm if they will be part of the programme. NHIF cards will be produced early January.

NHIF CEO Peter Kamunyo lauded the county government for being the first to implement such a programme that he said will go a long way in enhancing health services in the county.

Kamunyo said many families are impoverished by huge medical bills accrued when their loved ones are taken ill and that having an NHIF saves them from spending money that they don’t have.

“There is no better way of putting money in people’s pockets than helping them to access healthcare. It ensures they remain productive,” he said.

With the programme benefiting 20,000 homesteads and the national government covering another 20,000 homes, Kamunyo said there is still over 60,000 destitute homes in the county that are yet to get NHIF covers.

He appealed to the county government to ensure local health facilities are always equipped with drugs in the spirit of Universal Health Coverage that seeks to ensure no Kenyan is left behind.

“Those who pay Sh500 a month for NHIF can get dialysis of up to Sh1 million annually and get specialised surgery,” he said.

He explained that beneficiaries will have their biometrics taken so that by January next year, they will be able to benefit from the programme even without their cards.

“We have done reforms to ensure a card holder can even use her fingerprints to get services in hospitals. We will be going to all sub-counties registering all the beneficiaries of Kang’ata Care”.