The Ministry of Health in Kenya has reported that more than 50% of counties have successfully distributed kits and smartphones to Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and trained them on the e-CHIS program. However, less than 20% of counties have trained CHPs on the use of CHP kits.

At least 34 counties are paying CHPs stipends of between Ksh 2000-3500 monthly, every two months, quarterly, or inconsistently. Additionally, 30% of Primary Care Networks (PCNs) have been established, with 95 PCNs established out of the expected 315. 37 counties have established at least one PCN, with several counties having fully established PCNs.

The Ministry of Health held a three-day engagement meeting with all 47 counties to review the revitalized Community Health Program. During the meeting, progress updates on Community Health (kits, smartphones, training) were provided to the County Health teams, occupational standards for Community Health Workers and e-CHIS training packages were validated, and a joint work plan for monitoring the implementation of the community health promoters’ program was developed.

To move this program forward, the following resolutions were made at the Nanyuki Meeting:

– Deployment of all kits, smartphones, and medicines to CHPs should be fast-tracked.

– The training of CHPs on e-CHIS should be fast-tracked so that they are live on the Afya Nyumbani dashboard.

– Counties should fast-track and utilize link health facilities and local partners to train CHPs on the use of kits.

– Counties should deploy a full-time healthcare worker to supervise each community health unit.

– National and county governments should facilitate payment of CHP stipends as per the Intergovernmental Participation Agreements on PHC.

Counties will develop individual action plans to address the identified gaps. The Director Administration Mr. Aden Harake and the Director and Deputy Director General of Public Health & Professional Standards Mr. Sultan Matendechere were the chief guests.

Representatives from the Department of Community Health, Digital Health, State Department of Public Health and Professional Standards and the Division of Primary Health Care Networks also attended. Other partners attending were USAID, Johnson & Johnson, DANIDA, AMREF Health Africa, Enai Africa, HealthIT, Lwala Community Alliance, Kenya Redcross, Dandelion, LVCT, University of Nairobi, Save the Children, MEDIC, Medtronics, Safaricom Foundation, AMREF and KRCS.