Why focus on healthcare should begin at community level, Ruto

President William Ruto has emphasised the role of Community Health Promoters in the attainment of the government’s Universal Health Coverage agenda.

Speaking during a Thanksgiving church service in Molo in Nakuru county, the President said the CHPs will play a critical role in decongesting hospitals in the country noting that minor ailments will be diagnosed and treated at the community level.

He noted that the majority of people flock to hospitals even when they are having minor ailments such as flu, thus leading to unnecessary queues at health facilities.

“You find someone queuing at a referral hospital yet they have flu bringing about jams. The CHP will deal with you in your house and only refer cases that seem complicated,” Ruto said.

He said Nakuru county for instance will have 3,600 CHPs who will be paid stipends jointly by the national and county government and who will be moving from house to house doing the work.

“We have planned that the CHPs will be equipped so that we handle health issues beginning from the community,” he noted.

In a meeting held between the President and governors in March, it was agreed that the CHPs will be provided with standardised kits to undertake their health promotion work at the lowest levels in the communities.

Ruto has acknowledged that the CHPs are a critical component of the delivery of health since health is a devolved function.   BY THE STAR