Community Health Workers (CHWs) of Nyando have been sensitized by county public health department and are now part of the COVID-19 pandemic response. The CHWs use all feasible means to help people in the rural communities to stay healthy and informed in the wake of COVID-19 endemic.
In the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, 1373 CHWs across the county have been trained and have embarked on community mobilization as a way of helping the communities in approaching preventive and containment measures within Kisumu.
Kochogo North village in Wawidhi Ward, Ms. Benter Akinyi Bodo – the CHW, organizes door to door consultations for fellow villagers, using materials from the health department.
“We regularly do home visits and in consultation with Ahero Sub-county hospital and the county health department, we share information on the preventive measures with the community and other CHWs in remote areas.” Said Ms. Bodo
According to Ms. Bodo the CHWs are available 24/7 on the ground to continue assisting the community with their regular interventions and community mobilization even in the wake of Coronavirus crisis.
The residents of Wawidhi ward in Nyando Sub County have also been affected by floods following the heavy rains that have caused havoc across the country resulting to displacement, upsurge in malaria and other water borne diseases.
“Despite the general fear that many have stayed away from the hospitals due to coronavirus pandemic, the residents of Nyando have continued to seek health services at the health facilities.”
Nyando Sub County has a total of 437 CHWs who have been sensitized to visit their communities and spread information about the necessary measures to primary health preventions. In the face of COVID-19, they have been sensitizing on how to identify and report cases as well as sensitizing the community on the measures of preventing the corona virus in their jurisdiction.
The County communication officers joined the CHWs during their regular home visits in Tura village where the area CHW, Ms Mercy Otondi, examined the hygiene-related behavior change in the homes by ensuring that the interventions are adhered to.
The CHWs also conduct regular temperature screening, crowd control and ensuring adherence to preventive measures among the people who visit health facilities.
Community health worker, Ms Benter Akinyi Bodo demonstrating the hand sanitizing process to a resident of Kochogo North during home visit ( Picture by David Wadulo)
