State to Provide Smartphones to Community Health Promoters

By Mbungu Harrison

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

The government will equip all 107,800 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) across the country with new smartphones and modern health kits in the next 90 days in a move aimed at strengthening primary healthcare at the grassroots.

The equipment will replace the old gadgets that have served the CHPs for the past three years.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Kenya Health Summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi,

President Ruto met 5,000 CHPs and reaffirmed his commitment to support them.

“Our Community Health Promoters (CHPs) are the pillar of our primary healthcare at the grassroots and we must therefore support, and empower them to serve our people effectively,” he said.

“In the next 90 days, we will equip all the 107,800 Community Health Promoters with new smartphones and modern health kits, replacing the old equipment that has served them faithfully for the past three years.”

The President said the investment is intended to improve service delivery in villages and ensure CHPs can continue to provide essential health services and information.

“This investment will enable CHPs to continue doing the commendable work they do every day, bringing essential health services and information directly to our villages and communities,” he added.

President Ruto also expressed appreciation for the CHPs’ dedication to improving the health and well-being of millions of Kenyans.

“I once again express our appreciation for their dedication to improving the health and well-being of millions of Kenyans,” he told the 5,000 CHPs present at the summit.

Community Health Promoters are central to the government’s push for Universal Health Coverage with their mandate including household registration, health education, disease surveillance, and referral of patients to health facilities.

The rollout of new smartphones is expected to enhance data collection and reporting while the modern health kits will improve screening and basic treatment at the community level.

The Kenya Health Summit brings together health stakeholders to deliberate on reforms and strategies to improve service delivery in the country.