The National Assembly, on Tuesday, November 26, approved a bill seeking to recognise and pay Community Health Workers (CHWs).
Sponsored by Ndhiwa Member of Parliament (MP) Martin Peters Owino, the bill sought to establish a legal framework to acknowledge the essential role of CHWs and incorporate them into the government payroll.
“Community Health Workers are essential as they work directly with the community. The community health worker knows the homesteads in the area he or she lives in and is familiar with the language of the people and the challenges facing the society,” MP Owino said in his submission.
Following this decision by the MPs, the Community Health Workers Bill, 2022 (National Assembly Bill No. 53 of 2022), now heads to the Senate.
If approved, the Community Health Workers Council of Kenya will also be created to regulate and standardize the operations of CHWs, ensuring professionalism and effectiveness in their work.
In the National Assembly, the bill received major backing from several MPs, most of whom recognised the crucial role of CHWs in facilitating health, especially at the grassroots level.
One such backer was Sotik MP Francis Sigei who termed the role of the Community Health Workers as the backbone of society.
"These Health Warriors ensure our nation remains healthy and productive. Without their efforts in combating diseases within communities, our healthcare system would falter,” he stated.
Seme’s James Nyikal echoed these sentiments saying, "Worldwide, it is clear that community members play a significant role in healthcare delivery, from traditional midwives to health educators. Strengthening and empowering CHWs is essential for improving health outcomes.”
While also supporting the bill, Marsabit County Women Representative Naomi Waqo raised the concern of little training offered to the CHWs and proposed regular training exercises on how to deal with any arising challenges they may encounter in their positions.
She also suggested that the Community Health Workers Council offices be implemented in every constituency to ensure their services are available countrywide.
“While the qualifications for these Community Health Workers are clearly defined in the Bill, we must make sure that these Health workers consistently receive the requisite training to ensure that they are always relevant with every new challenge that faces our communities," Waqo stated.
Despite not being on the government’s payroll and only relying on stipends, CHWs have consistently been utilised to spread healthcare services to all Kenyans, especially in rural areas without access to health facilities.
As the nation transitions to the Social Health Authority (SHA) they have also played a key role in the registration drive, helping the illiterate and those with no access to cell phones or internet access.
