Lokichoggio- June 6, 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
At least 87 Community Health Promoters from Lokichoggio Sub-County have just completed a five-day training on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). The CHPs have now gained knowledge on how to test, detect, prevent and manage Diabetes, Hypertension, and common cancers at the community level.
This training, implemented by the Department of Health and Sanitation and supported by Amref Health Africa’s Danida Transcend project, follows a five-day training where all the six Community Health Assistants (CHAs) were trained as trainers of trainers. The CHAs are now the ones training the CHPs cascading the knowledge further.
“This training is important. It is good to see the County Government values us as important members of the healthcare sector, and they need us to gain more knowledge,” said Veronicah Narubu, one of the CHPs.
According to Benjamin Areman, a CHA at the Aochele Health Unit, the CHAs’ Trainers of Trainers curriculum gives the CHAs an edge making them capable in cascading the training further to the CHPs.
With the last training done in 2017, County Director of Community Health Services, Dr Lolepo shared that there are increased levels of NCDs cases in the county which prompted this training.
“This training is meant to build their capacities to be able to address these issues as well as enhance community education. The NCD cases are mostly due to lifestyle habits such as excessive consumption of alcohol and tobacco products,” emphasized Dr Lolepo.
Narubu further added that this training has been an eye-opener for most of them especially in how deadly cancers can be. She shared that they can now be able to easily identify symptoms and refer patients accordingly.
On the other hand, Ann Nduta, Program Officer, Community Health Services at the Ministry of Health shared that it is relevant for the frontline healthcare workers to understand the basics of NCDs as they are silent killers.
“Non-Communicable Diseases do not communicate. This means there are no signs, and one may never know that have any until they are screened. This is usually after a long time and at a point where one is already experiencing complications and is very weak,” she stated.
The Primary Healthcare Officer at Amref Health Africa (Danida Transcend), Gabriel Ejikon reiterated that while there are four major objectives in this project, creating of demand for quality health services is what the project intends to amplify.
“This is going to help us to improve the health outcomes especially in the underserved regions of Turkana County,” he stated.
Areman highlighted about the current NCD burden within the county adding that this training could not have been brought at a better time.
“This training was brought to our level as CHAs so that we may build the capacity of the CHPs in order for them to know the risk factors pre-disposing our communities to the NCDs,” he commented.
In addition to that, Narubu expounded that the now know the numbers to look out for when screening adding that the training has given them a clear direction.
Peter Erukudi, another benefiting CHP member highlighted there was a knowledge gap that now been filled.
“We have understood the lessons taught and as we are heading back to the community, we are confident that we are in a position to properly screen and ask questions as well as refer where need be,” he expounded.
Nduta who was also a supervisor expressed hope given the interest displayed by the CHPS, sharing that she has no doubt the CHPs are eager to put the kits’ contents to great use, urging the County Government to support them further.
James Lobokan, Director Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Research expressed full support for the CHPs towards ensuring they understand what is required and can treat basic illnesses at the community level.
“Through active case such and identification, this is going to help us in terms of prevention of cases. Our CHPs will be able to help us with reporting improving their indicators at eh Sub-County as well as improved reporting rate in terms of the NCDs,” he explained.
Director Lolepo stated that over the next week, a rapid result initiative will be carried out allowing for a mop-up and lead to activate screenings at the household level.
The training included lessons on the prevention and management, myths and misconceptions, and related palliative care around Breast, Cervical, Colorectal, Prostate, and childhood cancers.
The supervising team also included Dalmas Lokok (Sub-County Medical Officer of Health) and the Sub-County Health Management Team, Denis Erot (Project Officer at Danida Tanscend), and Emmanuel Sigei (Public Health Services official at the Ministry of Health).
