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Counties will invest in community health services by ensuring that they recruit and retain the community health workforce if a new bill is enacted.

The Community Health Services Bill, 2023 sponsored by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ seeks to ensure that the County Assemblies are informed in order to consider legislative interventions to strengthen community health services.

According to the proposed legislation, Health Cabinet Secretary, in consultation with county governors, is obligated to develop regulations on community health services.

“The object of this Bill is to provide a framework for the regulation of community health services and the recognition of community health workers,” reads part of the bill.

The bill proposes that the National government, in collaboration with county governments, shall formulate a policy on the delivery of community health services including, technical resources and structures required for the delivery of community health services and qualifications of persons eligible to serve within the community health workforce.

However, the County Government shall implement the national policy and standards on community health services and mobilise resources necessary for the delivery of community health services in the respective county.

In addition, the devolved units will also allocate adequate funds and resources necessary for the effective delivery of community health services within the respective county and develop the necessary technological infrastructure required by the community health workforce to effectively deliver community health services.

“The County governments shall facilitate access to information regarding appropriate healthy behaviour including basic information on sanitation, hygiene, and the prevention and treatment of communicable and non-communicable diseases,” reads part of the bill.

In ensuring that the county governments meet their obligations, the county executive committee member in each county shall advise the Governor on all matters relating to the delivery of community health services in the county and develop and implement county-specific programs and strategies that promote access to community health services.

The County Executive Committee member will also monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of community health programs delivered within the respective county and collaborate with partners in the water, agriculture and education sectors to improve determinants of health at the community level.

“The County Executive Committee member will approve and integrate into the county budget the community health unit annual work plan and the budget and make recommendations for the review of the standard reporting tools to the community health workforce,” reads part of the Bill.

Kajwang’ in his Bill further proposes that the County Public Service Board shall competitively recruit and appoint such community health officers it may consider necessary for the proper and efficient implementation of the Act.

According to the proposed legislation, a community health officer shall monitor and evaluate the implementation of decisions arising from community dialogue days and health action days, coordinate the implementation of community health activities by the community health workforce and the Committee and oversee the selection of community health volunteers by the Committee.

In addition, the Community Health Service officer will provide technical support and training to community health volunteers and the Committee, supervise and assign duties to community health volunteers and manage the community-based health information system among other duties.

The bill also proposes a community health volunteer who shall sensitise the community on the importance of quality health services and healthy lifestyles, provide community disease surveillance by reporting early signs of imminent health disasters or emergencies and monitor the health status of members of the households assigned to the community health volunteer.

The Community Health volunteer will also keep and maintain a register of members in all households assigned to the volunteer, monitor the rehabilitation and integration of persons with mental illness into the community and provide appropriate health advice to an assigned household in a language that the member of the household understands.

“At the end of each financial year, the county executive committee member shall submit a report to the county assembly on the proposed implementation of community health programs in that year,” reads part of the Bill.