Amref Health Africa in collaboration with the Kakamega county government has initiated training for the health management staff and Civil Society Organisations(CSOs) on how to conduct social accountability for tuberculosis (TB) and malaria control projects.
The training will be conducted in five other counties of Homa Bay, Siaya, Busia, Bungoma and Migori.
Speaking during the training held in Kakamega, Dr Jamine Madara, governance and devolution consultant said the training will empower the civil society with skills that will help improve governance in health delivery services.
“Amref has an objective to build the capacity of health provider personnel and therefore identified social accountability as a way to improve governance,” he said.
He noted Health Management staff and CSOs will go through social accountability training after which they will be given an opportunity to write an action plan on how they will do social audit and hopefully institutionalise the process of social accountability in social delivery.
“Through the training, the medics are able to identify their rights and roles to play when it comes to malaria and TB control.CSO’s will come out and speak to the community who have been affected by the diseases,”said Madara.
He also noted that at the end of the training the civil societies will be able to visit the sick and those who are doubtful about their condition and urge them to go for checkup.
“The civil societies will do a follow up for those diagnosed with TB and ensure they take their drugs as prescribed to prevent more spread,” he emphasised.
For the case of malaria, Madara emphasized that the people should use their nets responsibly.
In 2021, 1900 cases of TB were reported in Kakamega while 1987 cases of the disease were reported in the county in 2020.
Residents have been advised to seek medical treatment which is offered for free in both government and mission hospitals, once they are diagnosed with TB.