Lokichar, May 31, 2024 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
The County Department of Health and Sanitation jointly working with USAID Imarisha Jamii have developed a work plan to boost access to HIV prevention services across the county.
The USAID Imarisha Jamii, a five-year program by Amref Health Africa in Kenya, is entering its final year of implementation. To this end, senior health management and USAID Imarisha Jamii teams met to review the program’s fourth year and thereafter co-created its final work plan.
The review indicated that more efforts were required to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmissions, improve antiretroviral therapy adherence, and increase the uptake of HIV Testing Services, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, sexually transmitted infections screening, and voluntary medical male circumcision.
Speaking at the three-day co-creation meeting, County Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health Cathra Abdi outlined the importance of strategic partnerships in addressing key gaps by leveraging county structures and mobilizing resources to increase healthcare services.
“Alcoholism, drug, and substance abuse are some of the gaps that need to be addressed in accessing ANC services and compliance with tuberculosis and ART treatment,” she said.
The teams also highlighted the need to conduct an in-depth analysis of TB/HIV indicators and scale up screening and initiation of PrEP in maternal and child health.
County Chief Officer for Medical Services, Dr Gilchrist Lokoel, said that the co-creation process allowed the exchange of ideas from the previous performance review. This, he said, enabled stakeholders to develop a work plan that would address key areas requiring change in the next financial year.
“I would like to laud the county and partner technical teams for co-creating the next financial year’s plan, as this will provide time to plan early for the successful delivery of health services,” he said.
USAID Imarisha Jamii’s Chief of Party, Dr. Evans Osembo, said that the program would shift to community health promoters within established Primary Care Networks to identify HIV/AIDS testing needs and link individuals to health services.
The program has played a vital role in increasing access and demand for HIV prevention services, health and social services for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) and their families, Reproductive Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), and nutrition.
Others in attendance included representatives from the National Directorate of Children Services, the Diocese of Lodwar, TUPADO and AIC Health Ministries.
