Bungoma governor Kenneth Lusaka has re-affirmed his governments’ commitment to ensure residents get quality and affordable healthcare.
Speaking at Mechimeru health centre in East Sang’alo ward, Kanduyi constituency, Lusaka pointed out that the launch of PHC is a demonstration of his commitment and that the county government towards global, national and regional efforts to accelerate Universal Health coverage.
“This is a global agenda towards promoting health services to be more accessible, affordable and acceptable to the communities in Bungoma County,” he said.
Lusaka stated that PHC is a whole of society approach to health that aims at ensuring the highest possible level of health and well being and the their equitable distribution by focusing on people’s needs.
The county government through the implementation of PHC will align with national priorities to strengthen access to health services, ensure quality of health services, protect people of Bungoma from financial risks of ill health and strengthen the responsiveness of the health system.
The county government has allocated Sh200 million this financial year for effective implementation of PHC activities.
This is the first budget line to have ever been considered as allocation specifically for PHC since the beginning of devolution.
The governor also in collaboration with development partners managed to launch PHC caravan which will be instrumental in promoting proactive outreach services to the communities in Bungoma County to reduce the burden of non communicable diseases, cancer, mental health illnesses and increase immunization coverage.
The county government is also establishing health centres in all 45 wards in Bungoma County, already 19 health centres exist and they are working to upgrade 26 dispensaries to health centres in the wards.
Community health promoters alias Madaktari Mashinani will also be given CHP kits to enhance community level service provision
CHP will be trained this July on digital data collection and given smart phones to enhance the capture of information from households
The Governor also announced that the Community Health Promoters (CHPs) formerly Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) will have an increase in their stipend to Ksh. 2,500 with the National Government to also give the same amount.
