Mombasa residents voice concerns over chief's role in CHPs selection

Residents of Mombasa have expressed concerns over chiefs being granted the authority to appoint Community Health Promoters (CHPs) out of fear of bias.

This occurred during public hearings for the Mombasa County Community Health Services Bill, 2024, and the Mombasa County Health Improvement Financing Bill, 2024.

Ibrahim Kondo, a Changamwe Sub County resident, was worried about clause 8 in the chief's service.

“Chiefs should not have the authority to choose Community Health Promoters (CHPs), as it might result in favouritism,” he said.

Voicing their opinions, residents want CHPs to be allowed to volunteer and not be hand-picked.

“Volunteers demonstrate genuine passion in their work, contrasting with selected individuals who seemed motivated primarily by the stipend they would receive,” said another resident, Kemsa Abdurahman.

They were, however, informed that the selection was to be done by the public in a Baraza.

The community health promoters asked for clarification on the continuity of the present ones and transparency in the selection process.

“The salaries for community health promoters are notably inadequate given their heavy workload, and the absence of proper personal protective equipment puts them at considerable risk of infection while attending to patients,” said Miyanzi Pole, a community health promoter from Likoni Sub County.

Prisca Edward, another CHP, was disappointed that the Bill didn't include provisions for their medical insurance, even though they work in hospitals, while Ramla Omar suggested regulating the number of CHPs in each region to prevent them from being overworked.

“The recruitment process should be accessible to everyone, not confined to a particular channel. As proposed by the Bill, recruitment should be conducted through Barazas or other suitable alternatives,” said Mariam Suleiman.

The Mombasa County Health Services Bill, 2024, aims to ensure effective delivery of integrated community health services and improve access to basic healthcare at the community level.

It will also finance the training of community health workers.

The Mombasa County Health Improvement Financing Bill, 2024, aligns with the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, 2012, allowing county health facilities to retain revenue for their expenses, restoring their financial autonomy.

Regarding the Health Improvement Financing Bill, 2024, Evans Mwachoki expressed his support for utilising revenue generated locally, emphasising its potential to enhance the efficiency of running healthcare facilities.

However, Mohamed Said pointed out that the bill only addressed the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, omitting level 3 and level 4 hospitals, which sparked concerns regarding the fair distribution of healthcare services.

“The Bill bore a striking similarity to the previous year's edition, suggesting it was more of a replication than a genuine attempt to tackle present healthcare issues,” he said.

He noted that the services described were primarily focused on those provided at Coast General Hospital, disregarding other healthcare facilities in the area.