Kenya Takes Bold Steps to Revolutionize Primary Health Care

By Mutangana Emmanuel

Kigali, Rwanda – December 4, 2024: At the International Health Ministers Summit in Kigali, Dr. Deborah M. Barasa, Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary, has showcased Kenya’s groundbreaking initiatives to enhance primary health care in the country.

 Speaking to delegates from around the world, Dr. Barasa emphasized the Kenyan government’s commitment to empowering community health and improving health access for all citizens.

In a significant move, Kenya has recruited 107,831 community health promoters who will be trained in both basic and technical health models.

Equipped with essential health kits and smartphones featuring the Electronic Community Health-Based Health Information System, these health promoters serve as the first line of defense in the healthcare system.

She said that each promoter receives a monthly stipend of $50 and is tasked with visiting households to upload vital health data and appropriately refer clients for further care.

“The data entered by these key soldiers into their smartphones is accessible at all levels via a centralized dashboard,” Dr. Barasa explained.

“This allows us to speed up our social health insurance registration, and I am proud to report that we have already registered 16 million Kenyans in just two months.”

In addition to community empowerment, Kenya is undergoing a structural redesign of its healthcare system, mapping the nation into 350 primary healthcare networks.

So far, 206 primary care networks have been established across all 47 counties, featuring multidisciplinary teams that meet regularly to review health data and develop community-driven solutions for sustainability.

These networks create a direct link between households, primary healthcare facilities, and primary referral hospitals, thereby enhancing access and strengthening the referral system.

Family physicians and specialists are scheduled to visit lower-level healthcare facilities, ensuring that quality care reaches even the most remote communities.

The Kenyan government is also making strategic financial investments to achieve a 9-to-1 return on investment in community health.

With resources allocated for the training of 2,400 community health officers and assistants, 43 out of 47 counties are matching the national stipend of $25 per community health promoter per month.

Dr. Barasa noted ongoing efforts to secure additional funding from the exchequer to support primary healthcare, reducing reliance on donor funding.

 Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Kenya’s community health framework proved invaluable, mobilizing citizens for vaccinations, conducting extensive contact tracing, and providing crucial public health information.

The community health teams have also played a vital role in containing recent outbreaks of Mpox and cholera, enhancing preventive measures through grassroots engagement.

 Kenya’s efforts in transforming primary healthcare have garnered global recognition, receiving a certificate of excellence at the International Community Health Workers Symposium in Liberia in March 2023, and being acknowledged by the World Health Organization for innovative community health strategies in 2024.

Kenya has also facilitated learning exchanges on primary healthcare with countries including Ethiopia, Malawi, Zambia, and the UK. Dr. Barasa concluded her address with a powerful message about the importance of political will, community participation, and strategic planning.

“By embracing primary healthcare as the cornerstone of universal health coverage, we are not just providing healthcare; we are building healthier, more resilient communities. Universal health coverage is not merely an aspiration, but an achievable reality.” She said.

As Kenya continues on this transformative journey, it stands as a blueprint for countries worldwide, demonstrating that effective health systems can be built through collaboration, innovation, and commitment to community health.

Health Ministers are convening in Kigali to discuss the Future of Health Systems in Africa and globally