Govt to hire 100,000 community health workers
The government is set to hire 103,000 community health promoters as part of a preventive approach to healthcare. Each promoter will be responsible for roughly 100 households. They will be provided with a kit that has modern medical equipment and then be deployed in communities across Kenya.
President William Ruto supports this approach to healthcare as it will save lives and resources. Dr Ruto says the initiative will enable early detection of health complications and lead to better management of the minor problems at the community level. This will then help to decongest our hospitals and improve health service delivery in the country.
“Preventive healthcare save lives and resources. This Bottom-Up approach to healthcare will allow us to detect health issues early and manage minor ones at the community level, which will decongest our hospitals and improve service delivery,” the President explained.
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The President also revealed that the health workers will be trained by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). He also commended USAID for M-Mama, an innovative mobile app for ambulance services that pregnant women and new mothers can call when in distress.
“USAID is a valued development partner. We have a robust partnership across many sectors and particularly in healthcare, said the President during a meeting with the USAID administrator, Samantha Power at State House in Nairobi.
The Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha and US Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, were also present.
