KENYA – Kenya’s Council of County Governors (COG) has partnered with Amref Health Africa to strengthen the counties Primary Health Care systems amid push to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
The collaboration prioritizes ringfencing health funds through Facility Improvement Fund (FIF) to enhance domestic resource mobilization and efficiency in use.
This is in addition to promoting quality improvement in services delivery in public health facilities.
It also focuses on strengthening community health workforce through domestic funding and establishment of a sustained framework for resource mobilization and allocation.
Amref Health Africa was officially founded in 1957 to deliver mobile health services and to provide mission hospitals with surgical support in under-served, remote areas.
Amref Kenya solutions are geared towards supporting a devolved system of government, addressing the needs of vulnerable populations and addressing the burden of infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases and maternal mortality.
Community Health Services are linked to improved health outcomes as well as improved cost-effectiveness in the health system since it reduces the number of people needing services from higher-level health facilities.
Despite significant progress since the onset of devolution of health services in Kenya, the community health space remains poorly financed, fragmented and there remains a weak link in the county’s health system.
The partnership between Kenyan governors and Amref seeks to support community health which remains a key priority in Kenya’s health and development agendas as it forms a primary component of Kenya’s Vision 2030.
It will further support the coordination of functions including policy and legislative analysis, proposals and strategies aimed at improving health systems and service delivery at the county level.
Kenya will also benefit from implementation of activities worth US$2,235,000 under the partnership over the period of 4 years to strengthen community health service while ensuring sustainable health financing right to the health facility level.
The strategic deal was signed by COG Chair Governor Martin Wambora, Amref Health Kenya Country Director Dr. Ndirangu Wanjuki and Chief of Party at Amref Health Africa in Kenya Gilbert Wangalwa.
The signed document also outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Ministry of Health, County Governments, County and Sub-County Health Management Teams and Boards as well as Health Facility Management Committees and Boards.
In addition, enhancement of domestic resource mobilization and efficiency in resource use remains central to government efforts to obtain access, equity, efficiency, effectiveness and quality in services delivery in public health facilities.
The partnership will go a long way in correcting the negative impacts of poor legislative framework, domestic funding and lack of sustained framework for resource mobilization on community health investment by the government and stakeholders in the health sector.
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