Project News

"Community Health Services form the foundation of health system in Kenya" said Professor Miriam Were, the Goodwill Ambassador for the Community Health Strategy. With her 30-year experience, the professor who is also the winner of the First Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize in 2008 advocates that the Strategy is the most effective way of creating a healthy, social-economic empowered society. "Solutions for health cannot be done by the health facilities alone. It is the communities that have capacities to address the issues by themselves if adequately educated and facilitated."

The powerful message were given to 14 leading journalists with health background at the National Media Workshop held in May 2013 to strengthen capacities of Media and develop partnership for successful mainstreaming of CHS in the devolved system. The participants learnt about the concepts, approaches of CHS, achievements and challenges for the future. This was done through presentations by a Community Health Worker who served as a volunteer to a slum in Nairobi and officers of the Division of Community Health Services. Following the introductory session, the participants were divided into four groups representing different geographical regions and worked on story mapping for different health subjects such as reproductive health, Maternal and Child Health.

The workshop was effective in increasing the Medias' understanding and attention to CHS. According to the interview, all the journalists did not know the goal, functions and progress of the CHS. The reports and features that have been produced show that there is increased knowledge and accurate reporting of the various issues. Two months after the workshop, more than ten CHS stories were printed/broadcasted by the participated journalists, including the news on launching of the CHS products (http://youtu.be/WMRUe-r9h9I) such as the Communication Strategy, the M&E Plan, the CHW Training Manual, and a CHS documentary produced by the Kenya News Agency in the Saro Community Unit in Migori district and delivered to key TV stations.

As continued efforts to build capacities and partnerships with Media to mainstream CHS in the new devolved health system increase, the Project currently invites Media professionals who participated in the workshop to submit a proposal on production of CHS features with JICA CHS Project fund.

Prof. Were leading journalists in singing the CHS Anthem

Journalists interviewing DCHS officers after the Workshop