The Government has disbursed Sh17 million as stipend to 3,500 Community Health Promoters (CHP) in Bungoma County.
The Cabinet Secretary (C.S) Ministry of Health Susan Nakhumicha made the announcement during the launch of Community Health Promoters Bungoma chapter at the Bungoma Airstrip grounds Saturday.
The CS said that the Ministry of Health had issued the CHPs with kits that would enable them carry out their duties at the grass root level effectively.
She cited new HIV infections, teen pregnancies and Sexual and Gender Based Violence as the triple three challenges facing the communities and asked residents to be on the forefront in fighting the practices.
On HIV infections, the CS told residents to utilize preventive like condoms to stop the spread of the virus and asked expectant mothers to prevent mother to child transmission by taking medication as instructed by the medical staff.
‘If we bring down cases of HIV, we shall have resources to take care of the rest of the health system,’ she said.
She
expressed concern at the high rate of teenage pregnancies in Bungoma County and called for concerted efforts among all leaders and the community as a whole in fighting the vice.
The CS called for an end to Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) saying it impacted negatively on women whom she said had the responsibility to take care of their families.
She said laws had been put in place to ensure all Kenyans get quality health services closer to their homes and adequate health equipment and staff would be put in health institutions.
The CS who was accompanied by other Ministry of Health officials said the in the new laws, primary health at level I, II, III would be free while at level IV there would be expenses to be incurred.
She said that effective 1st March this year, people at low level income would pay Sh300 towards the health insurance fund while those at the high level income would be required to pay 2.75 percent of their income saying that the money collected would be put into good use.
The CS sa
id that government had introduced an Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund where patients who are diagnosed with cancer would proceed to level V facilities and receive treatment for free at the government facilities. She also cited treatment for kidney diseases where patients would receive dialysis for free.
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka told residents to go for HIV test to know their status to prevent multiplication of the virus in the area. The prevalence rate is at 2.3 percent, he said.
On teenage pregnancies, the governor asked for concerted efforts amongst all leaders and the community to ensure the vice stops as it did not augur well for the growth and image of the community.
Kanduyi Member of Parliament John Makali and Didimus Barasa Kimilili M.P. attended the function among others.
Source: Kenya News Agency