KIAMBU: Kiambu County Governor Paul Kimani Wamatangi convened a meeting with the County Health Promoters (CHPs) at the county administration headquarters in Kiambu Town to address challenges in service delivery and explore strategies for improvement.
According to Kenya News Agency, the meeting allowed health promoters to engage directly with Governor Wamatangi, who highlighted achievements of his administration, notably the `Wamatangi Care` initiative. He pledged to increase the stipends for CHPs from the current Sh2,500 by January next year, describing it as a token of appreciation for their community services. The governor acknowledged delayed payments, promising that stipends for October and November would be settled by Wednesday.
Governor Wamatangi emphasized the importance of the Community Health Act in ensuring healthcare access and empowering health promoters. He directed that all 3,070 CHPs be enrolled in a comprehensive care program to enhance support and resources. The governor plans to station CH
Ps in county hospitals to ensure accountability in medicine distribution and announced the distribution of Sh84 million worth of medical supplies.
The governor also committed to providing ongoing training for CHPs, equipping them with work gear, and covering their SHIF (Social Health Insurance Fund) fees, urging them to promote health services. The County Executive for Health Services, Dr. Elias Maina, and the County Chief Officer for Health, Dr. Patrick Nyaga, commended the CHP program’s impact, highlighting increased SHIF registrations.
Public Health Director Teresiah Kariuki addressed challenges, including unregistered households and imposters, which will be mitigated by issuing membership cards. Kameno Ward MCA Peter Mburu proposed eliminating medical stores in government facilities to prevent stockpiling and ensure transparency in pharmaceutical distribution.
The meeting included various county officials and stakeholders, reinforcing a collaborative approach to healthcare improvements in Kiambu Count
y.