On January 23, 2018, CHS joined the County government of Kitui in officially deploying 108 health care workers of different cadres to support the delivery of quality HIV services across various health facilities in the county. The health workers being deployed included Nutritionists, Laboratory Technicians, HIV Testing Service Officers, Pharmacists, Records and Information Officers and Adherence Officers, bringing the total number of CHS supported staff in Kitui County to 253.
“In the first year of the Naishi Project, 159,026 individuals received HIV services, with a total of 14,978 on antiretroviral treatment. This year, we have a more ambitious target to reach 377,210 people and initiate 4,527 on treatment with the help of our health care workers. This ambition is necessary in order to achieve HIV epidemic control in Kitui County,” cited CHS Chief Executive Officer, Dr Paul Wekesa in his address at the event.
Her Excellency the Governor of Kitui County, Hon. Charity Ngilu expressed gratitude for the partnership between CHS and the county, and the efforts towards the identification, care and treatment of people living with HIV. She further made a passionate appeal to the newly deployed health care workers to work hard in ensuring that people receive high quality health services as well as information on prevention and adherence to treatment so as to reduce new HIV infections.
The Governor of Kitui County H.E. Charity Ngilu and CHS CEO Dr Paul Wekesa after the official deployment of health care workers in Kitui County
H.E. Charity Ngilu symbolically marked the deployment process by handing over appointment letters to a few of the 108 health care workers present at the event attended by over 250 people including CHS staff and residents of Kitui County.
With support from the U.S President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CHS strengthens human resource capacity by supporting facilities with different cadres of health care workers to bridge the human resource gap. Through the Naishi Project, CHS is currently supporting over 600 health care workers across 231 health facilities in Machakos, Makueni and Kitui counties.
