The government has recently released Sh.3 billion to compensate Community Health Promoters (CHP) nationwide, benefiting millions of Kenyans through this significant initiative.
More than 13 million Kenyans have already directly benefited from the healthcare services provided by these community health promoters, who are stationed in every village across the country.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, speaking during the funds’ release at the Official Residence in Karen, Nairobi, commended the 107,000 CHPs, acknowledging them as unsung heroes crucial to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
He expressed gratitude, stating, “You are the unsung heroes, having worked for many years without any administration thinking about you and your welfare.”
The current administration, under President William Ruto, marks the first to recognize and compensate community health workers for their pivotal role in promoting and providing preventive healthcare.
Each health promoter has been equipped with a smartphone and special kits, facilitating the collection of health data from communities through an electronic community health information system (E-CHS).
The National Government will cover 50% of the stipend, with county governments responsible for the remaining half, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts to ensure quality healthcare delivery.
Since their deployment four months ago, the CHPs have reached 2.7 million households, positively impacting approximately 13.5 million Kenyans with personalized health services.
This initiative is expected to mitigate the financial burden of healthcare expenses, preventing Kenyans from falling into poverty due to medical bills.
Dr. Abdourahmane Diallo, the World Health Organization Representative, praised the Kenyan government for its commitment to hiring and compensating community health promoters, ensuring the program’s sustainability.
Additionally, Deputy President Gachagua highlighted other positive outcomes of the Kenya Kwanza administration’s policies, such as the reduction in maize flour prices and the stability of the Kenyan Shilling against the US dollar, attributing these achievements to President Ruto’s effective economic management.
He urged those hoarding dollars to release them, as the shilling continues to gain stability in the forex exchange market.
Concerning forex exchange, he noted the stability of the Kenyan Shilling against the US dollar, attributing it to President Ruto’s effective management.
The government’s allocation of funds underscores its commitment to improving healthcare accessibility and recognizes the invaluable contributions of community health promoters across Kenya.
