Local health promoters get Sh3b stipend from the State
Thousands of Community Health Promoters have received their stipend after the government released Sh3 billion to cater for their monthly pay.
The CHP programme was launched last September and aims at taking healthcare services to the grassroots as the government rolls out the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme, which is being implemented jointly with the 47 counties and so far, over 13 million Kenyans have directly benefitted from it.
On Friday, the national government released its share of the pay amounting to Sh3 billion to be paid to the CHPs.
Speaking at the Official Residence in Karen, Nairobi, during the release of the funds, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua praised the 107,000 CHPs, saying they were unsung heroes leading the implementation of a programme key in achievement of the UHC.
“You play a critical role in the success of UHC and you are a critical pillar in this intervention of primary health care. You are the unsung heroes having worked for many years without any administration thinking about you and your welfare. This is the first administration to address your plight and recognise you. We appreciate your sacrifice and commitment to help the people,” the DP said.
President William Ruto’s administration is the first one since independence to pay community health workers for the critical role they play in promotive and preventive healthcare provision.
The counties are supposed to match a shilling for a shilling the CHPs receive from the national government.
“The Community Health Promoters are part and parcel of Kenyans communities, they are everywhere, offering critical services,” the DP told the Community Health Promoters at the launch of the payments and disbursement.
Accompanied by Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha, chairperson of National Assembly Committee on Health, Dr Robert Pukose, top government officials and partners, the Deputy President said the stipend is intended to appreciate the work done by the CHPs and in recognition of their vital role in public health sector.
Health information
Each of the health promoters has already been provided with a smart phone and special kits with Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa saying the gadgets have an electronic community health information system (E-CHS) and is being used for collecting health data from communities.
“Safaricom is committed to support the Ministry of Health and the whole programme,” said Ndegwa.
Gachagua stated that the National Government will be contributing 50 per cent of the stipend while the other half will be paid by county governments.
“We are calling on counties to fulfil and sustain their side of the bargain. Indeed, quality healthcare is not a favour to the people. It is a Constitutional right, which we must fulfil together. Kenyans care about quality, efficiency and effective service delivery,” said the DP.
He added that since the community health promoters were hired and deployed to the villages four months ago (October 2023), they have reached 2.7 million households.
“In under four months, we have touched the lives of at least 13.5 Million Kenyans- a 25 per cent reach in personalised health services,” he stated.
Dr Abdourahmane Diallo, the World Health Organisation Representative, praised the Kenya government for hiring the community health promoters and paying them stipends. He said the payment will assure sustainability of the programme.
The community health promoters are trained to provide health services, including prenatal care, immunisation, nutrition education and treatment of common illnesses.
