Kisumu community health workers get digital tablets to boost services

The Kisumu government has begun equipping Community Health Assistants (CHAs) with digital tablets to improve primary healthcare and strengthen the collection and use of health data at the community level.

The initiative is expected to enhance supervision of community health services, improve patient referrals and provide health workers with timely information to support decision-making.

Speaking during the launch, health executive Gregory Ganda said it was a significant step in the county’s efforts to modernise healthcare through technology.

He said digital health was not simply about introducing computers into hospitals but ensuring that accurate information was available to the right people when it was needed.

The tablets will enable CHAs to collect and transmit health information more efficiently, improving the quality of data generated from households and community health units.

The county said the devices will strengthen the referral system by allowing health workers to track patients and follow up on cases requiring further care.

The digital tools are expected to play a role in integrating mental health services into primary healthcare by supporting early identification of mental health conditions, referrals and follow-up of patients.

They will also generate data to help the county identify gaps in mental healthcare and guide planning and investment in programmes.

“Quality data is the backbone of responsive, people-centred healthcare,” Ganda said.

Kisumu has been implementing the electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS), a national platform that enables Community Health Promoters and other community health workers to record and submit routine health information electronically.

The system is linked to the Kenya Health Information System and is designed to improve the management of data generated through community health units, which form the foundation of the country's primary healthcare system.

The county has also been developing integrated Primary Care Networks to improve coordination between community health services and health facilities.

Ganda said the rollout of the tablets will further connect community-based services with the wider healthcare system and enable the county to respond more effectively to the needs of residents.

The county remained committed to ensuring that access to quality healthcare begins at the household level, including for residents living with mental health conditions.

“Together, we are building a future where quality healthcare begins at the household, no one is left behind, and every decision is driven by timely, reliable data,” Ganda said