The Nairobi City County Government under the leadership of Deputy Governor, Anne Kananu, has unveiled Ksh100 million to benefit the city's health volunteers.
Speaking on Monday, October 4, during the official launch of the Nairobi City County Community Services Health Act 2019 at Ngei Primary School in Langata sub county, Kananu noted that Nairobi residents deserve quality services which are always enhanced by the existence of Community Health Volunteers.
The deputy governor pointed out that it had taken the County Government four years of lobbying partners and the County Assembly Health Committee for the bill to be enacted into law.
She also pledged to ensure the protection of health and safety of all community health volunteers and community health services personnel in the county.
"Today marks a special day as we officially unveil this document that will work towards improving the health and wellbeing of Nairobi residents which is critical in achieving universal health coverage, and delivery of quality and efficient basic health care services at the community level."
"Community health volunteers are a big part of ensuring we deliver services to Nairobi residents as they engage in tracing and referral of health-related cases to health facilities, conducting home visits and mobilizing community workers to adopt health promotion among many others. We will therefore ensure an increment in their allocation," stated Kananu.
The funds will be used in Phase 1 of the implementation of the Act.
Cabinet Secretary for Health, Mutahi Kagwe, lauded the Nairobi City County Assembly for recognizing and appreciating Community Health Volunteers by passing the Act that is meant to protect them.
Kagwe urged all counties to pass a similar bill to ensure Community Health Volunteers are protected.
The Nairobi City County Community Health Act 2019 is an Act of the County Assembly of Nairobi, that gave effect to the provisions of Article 43(1) of the Constitution of Kenya and to provide for the establishment and delineation of Community Health units within the county for effective and efficient delivery of community-based health services and for connected purpose.
Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) usually deliver services in a defined geographical area location called a Community Health Unit which has 5,000 people. 10 CHVs are often assigned to the same area.
CHVs are supervised by Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs), who are government employees mandated to provide health services at the household and community levels and make referrals and linkages to health facilities.
How to Apply
The volunteers are tasked with visiting homes, initiating dialogue with families and their health situations. They are also expected to treat common ailments and minor injuries as well as link ill individuals to supervisors for specialised treatment.
CHVs are expected to be trained on a curriculum with 13 modules. The full curriculum takes approximately three months and consists of 324 facilitator-led contact hours in a classroom setting and 160 hours of practical experience.
Interested volunteers must posses KCPE and KCSE certificates while applying for the positions through the government health representatives in their areas. A detailed training is provided upon acceptance.
A representative from City Hall confirmed that all applicants must be ready to offer services at any given time and should be proper time managers. The applicants are also expected to have a high perseverance degree.
Many counties in Kenya do not pay their health volunteers.
