NAIROBI,Kenya, Oct, 5 – Acting Nairobi county Governor Ann Kananu has pledged to ensure the protection of health and safety of all community health volunteers and community health services personnel in Nairobi County.
In a speech read on her behalf by the Acting County Secretary Jairus Musumba during the official, launch of the Nairobi City County Community Services Health Act 2019 at Ngei Primary School Langata Sub county,Kananu said Nairobi residents deserve quality services.
“Today marks a special day as we officially unveil this document that will work towards improving the health and wellbeing of Nairobi residents which is critical in achieving universal health coverage, and delivery of quality and efficient basic health care services at the community level,” Kananu said.
The acting Governor pointed out that it has taken the County Government four years of lobbying partners and the County Assembly Health Committee for the bill to be enacted into law.
Kananu affirmed her government’s commitment in ensuring that the Act is fully implemented.
She also promised to arrange for the training and certification of Community Health Volunteers.
“Community health volunteers are a big part of ensuring we deliver services to Nairobi residents as they engage in tracing and referral of health-related cases to health facilities, conducting home visits and mobilizing community workers to adopt health promotion among many others. We will therefore ensure an increment in their allocation.” She added
The Cabinet Secretary for Health Mutahi Kagwe lauded and congratulated Nairobi City County Assembly for recognizing and appreciating Community Health Volunteer workers by passing the Act that is meant to protect them.
Kagwe urged all Counties to pass a similar bill to ensure Community Health Volunteers are protected.
He also appealed to development partners to put their focus on supporting Community Health services in the country.
The County Executive Committee Member for Health Hitan Majevdia thanked the County Assembly, National government, and other partners who were instrumental in the making of the Community Services Health Act.
Hitan also promised to push for an increase of budget allocation towards the Community Health Volunteers.
Roysambu MCA Peter Warutere, who is also the Chair of the Health Committee in Nairobi City County Assembly, said that the City-County is committed to remaining the role model in matters of health.
Warutere added that the County intends to improve health services in all the 17 Sub-Counties and ensure that all Community Health Volunteers are paid in time.
Nairobi City County has allocated 100 Million to be used in the initial Phase 1 of the implementation of the Act.
The Nairobi City County Community Health Act 2019 is an Act of the County Assembly of Nairobi, that gave effect to the provisions of Article 43(1) of the Constitution of Kenya and to provide for the establishment and delineation of Community Health units within the County for effective and efficient delivery of community-based health services and for connected purpose.
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