By The Mountain Journal team
Despite the up
and down, Laikipia has won praise
over its health management style.
The County Government Universal Health
Coverage Model has been admired by Ministry of Health a move that has forced many visits to learn
on how it has been implemented.
Governor Ndiritu Muriithi the man behind the UHC
Off late Dr Pacifica Onyancha, a director at
the directorate of Preventive and Promotive Health visited on a fact finding mission saying the Ministry will partner Laikipia County in implementation
of the UHC Model.
The model
focuses mostly on increased investment in promotive and primary health
institutions with community health volunteers playing a key role.
This model
goes against the traditional model where a lot of health investment happens at
the top level institutions at the expense of those at the primary level.
Onyancha
said that CHVs have a critical role in the success of the UHC since they
provide the link between the government and the community.
The directorate
will support the training of CHVs at a cost of Sh 42 million per year,she said
during a Cervical Cancer Awareness Week in Nanyuki’s Central Park.
“Laikipia
is a health-oriented county. No wonder it is the leading county on NHIF
enrollment. I appreciate Governor Ndiritu Muriithi for having given health a
priority in his manifesto which is ensuring health coverage for Laikipians,”
said Dr. Onyancha.
She applauded the
county for the successful implementation of the UHC model with 67% of the residents
having enrolled in NHIF cover.
The
ministry of health, she added will partner with the county government to achieve
full coverage.
To ensure
the success of the project initiated by the Governor, the community health workers were provided with screening
equipment and motorbikes.
One does
not need to go to the referral hospitals for the basic screening but only needs
to visit the nearby dispensary. primary health care.
She observed that to eradicate the cervical
cancer, and generally all cancers, there is a need for early detection before
the condition spreads beyond treatment levels. “This will save many families
the high cost of treatment which can be avoided by early interventions,” she
said.
A month ago, County Secretary Karanja Njora
said the health workers in the
county are a dedicated team that has enabled
the successful transformation of the
programme targeting the poor in the villages.
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