Hardworking Community Health Promoters (CHPs) will be recognized and rewarded by the Nandi County Government, Governor Stephen Sang has said. Sang who was speaking at the County headquarters in Kapsabet during the launch of 1,414 CHPs kits said his administration is working on parameters of how to monitor progress and reward health workers who have done well. ‘We are developing a proper reward scheme for CHPs who will be recognized as having done their work well. As you work with the community, just remember you stand a chance of recognition to better your terms. Let us work hard to ensure when counties are ranked we emerge the best,’ he said. The second-term governor said CHPs are key contributors to Universal Health Coverage as they play a crucial role in preventive and promoting improved quality primary healthcare services in the county. ‘Our CHPs have undergone extensive training, including technical modules such as integrated community case management, community case for malaria, TB, household air pollution and hypertension. They will collaborate with local health care facilities and authorities to provide crucial services, education, disease prevention and support to our citizens,’ he said. The governor noted that health promotion is essential and the proactive approach to health can significantly reduce the burden on our health care system. He said his administration is committed to ensuring that all residents in the county have access to affordable and quality health care. ‘A healthy nation is key to our social economic development agenda. We will work round the clock to ensure locals get quality health care services,’ he said. Nandi Chief Officer for Health and Sanitation Mr Fredrick Kiptum said focus on promotive and preventive health will revamp the healthcare system and reduce ever-rising health care costs. ‘For a long time we have focused on curative forgetting we can identify and prevent some of the ailments early enough,’ he said. The Chief Officer urged health promoters to safeguard the kits and use them effectively to provide basic health services to their communities. The County Community Health Strategy Coordinator Priscah Tero said promoters have been operating within the health system since 2006 adding that they have enough experience to handle the task effectively. ‘A trained CHPs is able to screen community members by conducting blood sugar test, taking blood pressure and body temperature. Where they identify abnormalities, the community member is referred to a nearby facility for immediate medical attention,’ she said.
Source: Kenya News Agency