The ministry of health on Wednesday flagged off eight buses to facilitate transport of students in
68 KMTC campuses in
marginalized areas.
The government and the World Bank have funded the enrolled community health nursing programme at a cost one 1 billion to help in the training of students.
Health PS Peter Tum
said that human resources for health is a key pillar of the health system.
He said for the attainment of Universal Health Coverage, there is a need for a rapid scale-up of highly trained Health personnel of Enrolled Community Health Nurses (ENHN) for service delivery in primary healthcare facilities and the communities.
The eight 51-seater buses will go to Lodwar, Kapenguria, Kabarnet, Bomet, Loitokitok, Kitui, Kilifi and Msambweni campuses for the ECHN program.
In September 2016, four 33-seat buses were sent to Lodwar, Kapenguria, Loitokitok and Msambweni.
“Past demographic and Health surveys revealed that arid and semi-arid areas continuously reported high maternal, infant and child mortality, and correlated acute malnutrition levels and low immunization coverage, Tum said.
KMT is conducting a training of students mainly from Marginalized and Vulnerable Groups in selected Arid and Semi-Arid Counties, and other population minorities.
“The training is funded through the Transforming Health Systems for Universal Care Project (THS-UCP) and in total 1200 students have benefitted from the training project”, Ps added.
The ministry also said it has acquired 24 lecturers employed on a three-year contract basis, textbooks, stationery, other training materials and equipment as part of the projects support.
He thanked the World Bank for partnering with the Ministry in providing the training resources and facilitating procurement of the buses.
World bank representative praised KMTC for the efforts in the training and urged the ministry to employ the students after graduating.