Turkana: Turkana County has partnered with UNICEF and Save the Children organization to train Community Health Promoters (CHPs) on ways of sensitizing residents to observe healthy childcare practices. At least 19 CHPs underwent a two-day sensitization workshop for Training of Trainers (ToTs), which covered areas including Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) with Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM).
According to Kenya News Agency, the initiative targets Turkana, Mandera, and Marsabit counties due to high malnutrition rates. Beginning September 8, the trained ToTs will cascade knowledge to 168 CHPs and 18 facility health workers in Loima, Lokiriama, Turkana Central, and Kibish sub-counties. The program aims to strengthen CHPs' capacity to identify and treat common childhood illnesses like malnutrition, pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhoea, which remain the leading killers of children under five in Turkana.
The county Chief Officer for Medical Services, Dr. Gilchrist Lokoel, cited the training as a milestone in child health interventions. 'Integrating iCCM with CMAM will reduce maternal and child mortality, while improving treatment and referral outcomes. By empowering CHPs with knowledge, we ensure holistic care and better health for our children,' he stated.
Acknowledging partners' contribution in fulfilling county research gaps, the county Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health Services, Janerose Tioko, called for stronger collaboration in finding solutions. 'This is the team we are relying on to realize the department's goals on reducing child mortalities,' she said.
Dr. Lokoel further emphasized that the program is 'larger than training,' as it gives hope to mothers and children by taking solutions to the grassroots. On her part, Tioko added that intensified monitoring and evaluation would help influence policy and provide a foundation for resource mobilization.
The Director of Community Health Services, Dr. Joseph Lolepo, said the Department will provide continuous technical support supervision to maximize efficiency and expand coverage. 'A fully trained CHP will treat uncomplicated malnutrition cases and other childhood illnesses, ultimately safeguarding children's health and well-being,' he added.
According to the Director of Health Products and Technologies, Dr. David Moru, CHPs have remained central to life-saving strategies since the introduction of iCCM nearly a decade ago. He said integrating CMAM will further improve child survival. The training also complements an ongoing research study generating local evidence on integrating uncomplicated malnutrition treatment into the iCCM-CMAM model.
This research is spearheaded by Save the Children, in partnership with Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). Deputy Director of Family Health, Gabriel Lopodo, noted that Turkana has built a strong track record in evidence-based studies on food nutrition, malnutrition, and neglected tropical diseases.
UNICEF Nutrition Support Officer (Lodwar Zonal Office), Benson Musau, underlined the importance of addressing data gaps from the 2018 study. 'Turkana has been a foundation of evidence-based research. This initiative must avoid past data gaps and mistakes in the previous study to deliver better outcomes,' he advised.
Save the Children's Program Manager for Turkana, Shariff Abdalla, stressed the urgency of child survival. 'This is a great call to strengthen child survival and resilience. By 2030, we aim to reduce child mortality by 25 percent,' he said.
Deputy Director of Clinical Services and Master ToT, Samuel Lokemer, urged facilitators to keep the training simplified and practical, since the CHPs were receiving their first integrated training. At the same time, the Deputy Director of Nursing Services, Alice Akalapatan, noted that the program provides an opportunity to identify the remaining gaps in child health interventions.
According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, Turkana's under-five mortality rate stands at 55 per 1,000 live births, significantly higher than the national average of 41. A pilot study in 2018 first tested the integration of iCCM and CMAM in the county. However, due to a low sample size, the inconclusive study informed the need for renewed research.
Other Master ToTs present included Deputy Director Nutrition, Calis Elamach, County Laboratory Quality Assurance Officer Amos Ekitela, among other medical officers, nurses, nutritionists, and community health assistants.