Health Committees - College of the Rockies

College of the Rockies Canada
Dedan Kimathi University of Technology Kenya
MAISHA
Dispatch from Kenya
The Njoki-ini Community Health
Committee with their CHEWs,
Elias and Margaret, at the Njoki-ini
dispensary in Nyeri County.
Issue October 01.14
Dates
September
CHC and CHV training in
Nyeri region.
October
Refresher EMOC training
hosted at Dedan Kimathi
University of Technology
in Nyeri.
October November
CHV and CHC training in
Migori region.
December
CHV training in Migori
region.
Health Committees
Under Kenya’s Community Health Strategy
Community Health Committees (CHCs) play a pivotal role
in overseeing the wellbeing of their communities. The
committees are comprised of local citizens, community
health volunteers (CHVs) and their corresponding
Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW). Together
the committee ensures that household data is collected
routinely and health objectives are met. The 10-13 member
group is trained in report writing, resource management,
leadership, personnel management, health objectives and
much more.
“[We are] training the CHC members to be
good leaders and to motivate the work of
CHVs” – Naomi (Gichiche CHEW and trainer)
Where do trainings take place?
Gichiche training in session.
Community Health Committee (CHC) trainings take
place in local health units, which are either health
centers or dispensaries. These facilities are located
within the community the committee will work.
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Health is a state of complete well-being.
The CHC trainings taking
place in September 2014
were intended to cover the
three final groups of five
covered by the MAISHA
project in the Nyeri region.
Two groups, Gichiche and
Njoki-ini had a successful
week
of
training
and
participation. However the
Kamoko Health Centre only
had 3 CHC members for
their first meeting. While
CHC members are recruited
and elected within their
communities
it remains
a challenge to
mobilize
commitment given that CHC
members are volunteers and
have other responsibilities
including income-generating
activities
and
family.
Kamoko will conduct another
recruitment process to find
suitable CHC members –
CHEW Douglas commented
that it is a “positive
challenge”!
According
to
Naomi
(Gichiche CHEW) the CHC
training is the first of its kind
for many of its members and
throughout the week the
group
motivation
and
participation
strengthens.
Moreover CHC members are
eager to learn more and to
participate in other training
so they can better serve their
communities!
Left: The Gichiche CHC and trainers.
Each day of training, conducted by a CHEW or Subcounty Health Management Team member, focuses
on a different module from the CHC Handbook.
CHC members engage in small group activities,
presentations, and practical exercises. Together CHC
members share ideas and their personal experiences to
enrich the curriculum. Ultimately the aim of
the training is to empower the members to
oversee the betterment of health in
their communities. In addition, CHCs can
independently choose to start cooperatives
or projects that support their goals by
fundraising and increasing community
outreach. MAISHA looks forward to
continuing its partnership with all Nyeri
and Migori CHCs and CHVs.
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