Kiambu County Department of Health Services has embarked on the training of 3000 Community Health promoters (CHPs) on the usage of Electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS) across the 12 Sub counties.
The Electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS) is a national project that was launched a year ago by the Ministry of Health that comprises a SmartHealth Mobile Phone application, built on Medic’s Community Health Toolkit (CHT) platform.
Kiambu County Director of Health Dr. Hillary Kagwa said the training aims at equipping the CHPs with information, skills and knowledge on how to enhance service delivery with the aid of eCHIS.
The Director was speaking Tuesday, when addressing Sub County Public Health Officers, Sub County Community Health Service Coordinators, Sub County Health Records and Information Officers who will be training the CHPs at the sub county level.
“The purpose of this training is to ensure CHPs are brought on board and understand their roles and responsibilities when it comes to community health promotion in their communities and also equip them with information and skills to navigate the eCHIS,” said Kagwe.
Kagwa added that the eCHIS training program encompasses a wide array of topics, ranging from data entry and patient registration to advanced analytics and reporting functionalities.
“By leveraging technology to its fullest potential, healthcare workers will be able to access real-time patient/ Community information, track health trends, and identify potential outbreaks promptly,” he said
He further cited that the system is set to transform the way patient data is collected, managed, and shared, ultimately enhancing healthcare outcomes and improving patient experiences.
Speaking to KNA, a CHP in Kirigiti ward Dorothy Kinyua said she was excited about the aspect of technology that is going to revolutionize the way they deliver care, citing that they have long faced significant challenges, including reliance on paper-based tools and records that can easily be lost, destroyed or misplaced
“I am excited that the app will be sending regular automated reminders on what to focus on next that means I cannot forget anything. For example, I cannot forget to do a follow-up visit to a client hence making my work easier,” said Kinyua.
This comprehensive system not only streamlines administrative tasks, but also fosters seamless communication among Community health providers, resulting in more coordinated and personalized care for the community.
“Supervisors work has also been eased as they are able to view what CHPs are doing and give tailored support, even remotely,” said the County Director for Health.
