Garissa Governor Nathif Jama on Saturday commended President William Ruto for supporting counties in the employment and kitting of community health promoters (CHPs).
This, he said, will improve primary healthcare provisions in the country.
Speaking in Bura town, Fafi subcounty, Jama said the CHPs will contribute to the services offered at the dispensaries and health centres, acting as a vital link between the health facilities and the communities, and creating a demand for the uptake of health services.
The CHPs kit contains essential basic lifesaving medicines that the health workers will use at the household level under the supervision of the public health officers to ensure quality.
He said his administration is working closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure that the CHPs will get monthly incentives on a 50-50 cost-sharing basis between the two governments.
The county Health executive Ahmednadir Omar said that the health promoters will be paid a stipend ofSh5,000, with both national and county government contributing Sh 2,500 each for every person.
The community health promoters were initially known as the community health volunteers but the name has been changed with structured working guidelines.
The executive said that the citizens will now be able to get health services closer to their communities thus improving their quality of life.
"One important pillar for these community health promoters is the primary care networks and Garissa is one the first counties to launch its primary care hubs," Omar said.
"In order to sustain our healthcare services, we have deployed consultants, paediatricians, gynaecologists and surgeons to our subcounty hospitals in Dadaab and Masalani.
"Further, today (Saturday) the governor commissioned the Bura East Subcounty Hospital theatre in line with strengthening our healthcare networks and also ensuring that our hubs are effective."
Omar said that going forward, hospitals in the county will benefit from uninterrupted supply of medicine and medical equipment to be able to operate efficiently.
"We have also been doing continuous supply of medicine to our hospitals as we align with the goals of the universal health coverage. I can say that Garissa county is doing well in terms of provision of healthcare services," he said.
UHC is a declaration of Kenya's commitment to prioritise healthcare as a foundational element of its development.
