Community Health Promotors
At HopeCore, our Community Health strategy is comprehensive and is crucial for providing health education and services to our rural communities. At the heart of this strategy are Community Health Promoters (CHPs), who are community members trained to render specific essential health education and promotion services.
1,265 Community Health Promotors
We have 1,265 Community Health Promoters who are trained, monitored, and supervised by HopeCore in partnership with Tharaka Nithi Health Services.
What are Community Health Promoters?
Community Health Promoters (CHPs) are an integral part of the healthcare system in rural Kenya. They play a crucial role in improving the health and well-being of communities by providing basic health services and education. CHPs are often the first point of contact for people seeking healthcare in rural areas, and they help to bridge the gap between communities and formal healthcare systems.
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CHPs educate communities on basic health practices such as handwashing, nutrition, and sanitation.
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CHPs provide basic treatments for common illnesses such as malaria and diarrhea.
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CHPs identify and refer people with health problems to formal healthcare systems.
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CHPs play a crucial role in disease prevention efforts, distributing mosquito nets to combat malaria, facilitating vaccination drives, and educating the community on hygiene practices to prevent the spread of diseases.
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CHPs work to mobilize community resources and encourage people to participate in local health initiatives and campaigns.
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CHPs monitor health trends within the community, report on health issues, and collect data that the organization can use to tailor its programs and measure its impact.
How We Are Different:
Our extensive training and mentorship program for CHPs is unique. We work regularly with our CHPs to ensure that they are maintaining the skills and resources that they need to serve their communities.
HopeCore CHP Training and Mentorship Program
Community Health Promotors are trained on various health promotion topics every 2 months. Topics include: Diarrheal diseases, pneumonia, TB, HIV, hypertension, diabetes, caring for a sick child, pregnancy, and family planning.
CHPs are provided with an educational flipchart that they can then use to help educate the community members when they go door-to-door
Once every quarter, each of our CHPs participates in a mentorship day called Support Supervision, where one of our senior staff follows the CHPs throughout their home visits and provides any necessary information or feedback that is needed to make the CHP more successful in their health promotional services
The Role of the CHPs is critical.
The role of CHPs in rural areas of Kenya is particularly important because many people in these areas face barriers to accessing formal healthcare systems. These barriers include distance, cost, lack of transportation, and cultural beliefs. CHPs are members of the community who understand these barriers and can provide healthcare services that are tailored to the needs of their neighbors.
How CHPs Support Rural Health in Kenya
Health Education:
CHPs are tasked with providing essential health education to communities. This includes information on nutrition, sanitation, disease prevention (such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, and waterborne diseases), maternal and child health, and other public health concerns. They often conduct workshops, home visits, and community meetings.
First Aid and Basic Healthcare:
Providing basic healthcare services and first aid in communities where access to clinics and hospitals is limited. This might also include the management of minor ailments and injuries.
Nutritional Support and Education:
CHPs provide guidance on proper nutrition, particularly focusing on pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children. They may distribute supplements and educate families on maintaining balanced diets to prevent malnutrition.
Capacity Building and Training:
CHPs often receive training from the organization to enhance their skills and knowledge. They, in turn, train community volunteers and other stakeholders on health promotion techniques and practices.
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH):
They are involved in WASH initiatives, educating communities about the importance of clean water, proper sanitation facilities, and good hygiene practices. This might also include the distribution of water purification tools or the construction of latrines.
Diverse Skillset:
By addressing a wide range of health and environmental issues, CHPs play a fundamental role in creating healthier, more resilient communities.
Join Us
At HopeCore, we are committed to supporting our CHPs and ensuring that they have the training, resources, and support they need to provide high-quality healthcare services to their communities. Join us in creating a healthier world, one community at a time.
Support a CHP Today
Join us in creating a healthier world, one community at a time.
