The National government of Kenya is racing against time to equip the newly recruited Community Health Promoters (CHP) with health kits days before the El Nino rains begin to pound.
President William Ruto is set to launch the kits Monday, the 25th of September 2023, which will see health promoters from the 47 counties converge at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Despite masses querying the formation of the position in what will see the govt cough about 3.5 billion shillings to purchase the kits in the wake of tough economic times, experts say the community health promoters will play a pivotal role during the heavy rains.
President William Ruto in his manifesto, pledged to hire health promoters at the county level to offer decentralized health care to Kenyans from the comfort of their homes.
Health being a devolved function in the country, it is still facing several red tapes that hamper its delivery.
Some of the challenges include; expensive treatment, lack of technology and knowledge for early screening and diagnosis, medicine and legislations.
The health promoters have only three jobs: inspire behavior change towards good health, be the linkage between hospitals and the community and offer preventive aids to accident injuries and other health complications that do not need specialized treatment.
On the onset of the El Nino rains that is expected to last for about four to six months in Kenya, the recruitment and subsequent equipping of the health promoters should be a key a turn around to the habitual disease breakouts.
With the health promoters now expected to be the linkage between the govt and the people in averting health losses emanating from the rains that could include infectious and respiratory diseases malnutrition, heat, stress and mental illness, the government of Kenya boasts of being strides ahead in combating El Nino.
It is expected that there will be heavy CHP deployment in Lake Victoria Basin region which is favorite to water borne diseases like Amoeba and Cholera, the highlands of Kisii, Elgeyo Marakwet, Bungoma, and the central Kenya region known to suffer landslides and cold induced infections and the northern Kenya that will be facing intense heat.
The country’s capital Nairobi is leading other counties by extensively hiring over 30,000 cleaners to clear sewers and other clogs that are likely to block waterways and led floods
However, the preparations are coming in a few days to the rains, having been alarmed on the 4th of July 2023 by the United Nations that told governments to prepare for the adverse effects of El Nino, saying the weather phenomenon which triggers higher global temperatures would persist throughout this year.
Kenyans remain optimistic they shall not experience the replica of the 2006 and the heart-drenching 1997 effects of the El Nino rains.