Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia. Photo/File
By EVELYN SITUMA
The government has unveiled a master plan to
guide counties in delivering healthcare services. The plan details the
state of community medical systems and provides manuals to be used in
training of health workers.
Dubbed Innovative Community Health Strategy and Economic Stimulus Programme Products, the plan comes with a web-based tool — e-health — for community health workers and promoters
“The 14 documents are important in guiding the counties for effective implementation of community health services,” Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said.
The website has names and location of 8,000 healthcare facilities in the country, contacts of officials in charge, and their status. Currently, there are 2,500 community health units. The government expects to increase them to 8,000 in the next five years to boost access to services.
In the North Eastern region, which has the lowest density of health centres, the government intends to use motorcycles and mobile clinics in healthcare outreach programmes.
Under the Constitution, counties are responsible for health services except in the case of policy making and referral hospitals.
Community health workers are involved in preventive, promotion and first line curative services necessary in achieving universal healthcare targets.
The government intends to step up the recruitment of health extension workers from 2,100 presently to 25,000 by 2017. Mr Macharia said that the ministry was waiting for Public Service Commission approval before it starts to enrol community health workers.
The workers are volunteers who are then equipped with skills to tackle the most pressing community health problems, including personal and environmental hygiene which are key in preventing diseases.
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