Sakaja on why Kenya needs volunteers
Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja has said Kenya needs more volunteers in various sectors. Speaking in Nairobi on Thursday after being inaugurated as the patron of the Kenya Red Cross, the county boss said various sectors in the country need service providers.
The governor also said members of the public should move away from the notion of demanding payment after offering services.
“We need volunteers in sectors such as health. People who are willing to serve from their hearts,” Sakaja said.
Citing the example of Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), Sakaja said the volunteers work tirelessly to create health awareness in communities.
Also read: Governor Sakaja: We’ll not tolerate theft of water, illegal connections
Governor Sakaja said that if people can volunteer, like the CHVs, then the economy will record a faster growth.
“Volunteering is an honorable activity. We need more people who enjoy what they do. People focused on making a difference in the community,” Sakaja said.
CHVs are a key part of the health workforce that links communities with the health system. The CHVs are tasked with making home visits to deliver health promotion messages and establish protocols for community-based maternal and newborn health.
Also read: Raila moves in to rescue Jubilee Party from being ‘swallowed’ by Kenya Kwanza
They also walk around sensitizing people on immunization, HIV/AIDS and communicable diseases such as cholera.
Despite playing a vital role in reaching Kenyans at the lowest levels with essential health services, CHVs work voluntarily.
In a meeting held between the Council of Governors and the Ministry of Health in December 2022, it was agreed that the two will have to put in place resources to go towards CHVs compensation package.
Kenya has more than 9,000 CHVs working across the 47 counties. They are supervised by community health extension workers and operate within community health units encompassing about 100 households.
Also read: Martha Karua now questions MCK’s credibility over raid on Matiang’i’s home