The Community Health Units for Universal Health Coverage (CHU4UHC) is a collaborative partnership of community health organizations in Kenya, dedicated to enhancing primary health care and advancing the government’s pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This initiative unites various stakeholders committed to improving community health by professionalizing Community Health Promoters (CHPs), elevating community engagement, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality health services to households across Kenya.

Key Accomplishments (2020–2024)

Over the past four years, CHU4UHC – where Living Goods is a member- has played a pivotal role in supporting the Kenyan government in formulating critical health policies and frameworks. Among these are the Kenya Community Health Strategy 2020–2025, the Investment Case for Community Health, the Costed National Community Health Digitization Strategy 2020–2025, the Primary Health Care (PHC) Act 2023, and the Financial Investment Fund (FIF) Act 2023. Through these efforts, the partnership has successfully professionalized 107,000 CHPs, advocated for fair remuneration, supplied essential health commodities, and facilitated the nationwide rollout of the electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS).

Planning for the Future (2025–2027)

CHU4UHC, in collaboration with the government, is developing a comprehensive strategy for the next phase of its work. This plan focuses on six key areas: the continued training of CHPs, improving supervision and performance metrics, enhancing leadership and governance within the health sector, strengthening supply chain mechanisms, improving health financing structures, and upgrading digital health systems. A recent convening of funders and stakeholders provided an opportunity to assess the current state of community health, identify areas requiring improvement, and craft strategies to foster continued progress.

Stakeholder Insights

Key stakeholders shared valuable insights to guide the next phase of CHU4UHC’s work. Dr. Maureen Kimani, Head of the Department of Community Health at MoH, Kenya, emphasized the necessity of demonstrating the tangible impact of community health investments and a shift towards more strategic interventions. Anthony Gitau from Johnson & Johnson highlighted the importance of maintaining a clear vision that prioritizes meaningful impact over numerical achievements. Melissa Morisson from ELMA Philanthropies underscored the need for collaborative planning and translating high-level commitments into actionable results, advocating for collective fundraising efforts. Additionally, Dr. Meshack Ndirangu from AMREF Health Africa commended the government’s leadership and recognized CHU4UHC’s role in fortifying health systems and saving lives.

The Path Forward