Bungoma among Counties to benefit from PHC project

Bungoma is among the Counties that will benefit from a Primary Health Care ( PHC) project that will be implemented in Machakos, Nyeri, Embu and Nakuru Counties.

The project will be implemented with an aim of promoting health services at the grassroots level.

The project will be implemented by the Bungoma Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) network that works in Bungoma to ensure that there are increased uptake of Antenatal care (ANC) visits in the health facilities, reduced teenage pregnancy and strengthened referral systems in the health facilities in Bungoma County.

Bungoma RMNCAK network is a non-governmental organization working to promote better health outcomes for women and newborns.

Speaking to the Star at Sawan Hotel on Tuesday during an inception meeting with health stakeholders from Sub- County health facilities, Bungoma County director of health and medical services, Johnstone Akatu lauded the World Health Organization and the Primary Health care performance Initiative (PHCPI) for including Bungoma on its list to support residents in getting the primary health care.

“This is a good gesture that we have been shown as a county, let us take it positively and ensure that our mothers are accessing an improved health care system,” Akatu added.

Akatu noted that Bungoma is lucky and will see residents better services affirming that it will also reduce maternal deaths in the region.

He noted that Bungoma as a County developed a community health strategy that sees Community health volunteers move around the county to ensure that locals are accessing improved healthcare.

“We have 3,450 Community health volunteers that we have deployed across the county that help us in monitoring pregnant women and other sick people in the villages,” he noted.

Akatu argues that some individuals stay at home without seeking medical attention from health facilities, assuring that CHVs have really helped residents to access services.

He added that the County has employed health providers in all level one hospitals and high-volume facilities.

“Dispensaries have at least two health providers as high volume health facilities have four health providers that are ensuring that our people are getting improved healthcare,” Akatu added.

In addition, Akatu affirmed that all Sub-County healthcare providers have been sensitized about the PHC project and they will be at the forefront of implementing it in their areas.

Rahma Issa, the PHC project coordinator told the Star that the project will be implemented in Sirisia, Webuye West and Kanduyi Constituencies.

“We have identified three Constituencies (Sirisia, Webuye West and Kanduyi as areas where the project will be run for the next two months,” she said.

Issa called on the Bungoma County government to prioritize allocating the budget to maternal health.

In his appeal, Issa asked the Lusaka government to prioritize the PHC.

The partners in the PHC projects in Bungoma County include Options MAMAYE, Stage Media arts, Bungoma County government, Marie stops and Civil Society Organizations.