By Our Correspondent
Worth Noting:
- The CHMTs and SHMTs were taken through the Community Scorecard process, including the scorecard indicators, scoring, and action planning process.
- They will later cascade this training to key stakeholders at the community level, including the Health Facility Management Team (HFMT), the Community Health Committees (CHCs), and local administration, including sub-county administrators, area MCA and chief. The CHCs will lead the implementation of the Community Scorecard process between communities and primary Health facilities.
The County Government of Nyeri, under the Department of Health Services with the support of AMREF Health Africa and the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), held a two-day training for County Health Management Teams (CHMTs) and Sub-County Health Management Teams (SCHMTs) on the Community Scorecard Assessment tool.
A Community Scorecard (CSC) is a citizen-driven accountability tool that enhances civic involvement in delivering quality health services.
It gathers feedback from users of health services and involves communication between communities (service users), local leaders, and service providers (government and health care workers).
The main objective of the Community Scorecard is to put the communities at the centre of delivering quality health services, mobilize community resources and build trust between community and service providers. As a result, this Scorecard, guided by key principles of Transparency, Accountability, responsibility, and confidentiality, will significantly encourage community members to take ownership and participation in their health matters.
This will lead to more accountability in the health facilities as the community members will monitor the quality of health care services provided, including providing structured feedback on areas of improvement.
The CHMTs and SHMTs were taken through the Community Scorecard process, including the scorecard indicators, scoring, and action planning process.
They will later cascade this training to key stakeholders at the community level, including the Health Facility Management Team (HFMT), the Community Health Committees (CHCs), and local administration, including sub-county administrators, area MCA and chief. The CHCs will lead the implementation of the Community Scorecard process between communities and primary Health facilities.
The CSC gathers communities’ experiences under the following themes/indicators; Respectful and compassionate care, Waiting time for the provision of Health care services, Availability of medicines and diagnostic services, Responsiveness to community health needs, Cleanliness of the facility, Safety and security of the facility, Home visits by Health Workers/ Community Health Volunteers, Assessment of NHIF services and Emergency and referral services.
The CHMTs and SHMTs will then dialogue with community members today in several health centers and dispensaries across the county.
The Community Scorecard assessment session must have a representation of youths, people living with disability, and the elderly, and the third gender rule shall apply.
Amref Health Africa in Kenya has facilitated this process under the #CHU4UHCs program.
The Amref team, led by Program Coordinator Aloise Gikunda had earlier paid a courtesy call on Ag. Health CEC Robert Thuo, Chief Officer Ibrahim Adan, and Health Director Dr. Nelson Muriu.
African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) introduced the Scorecard, which boosts accountability and stimulates actions by community members, local leadership, and Community Health Committee (CHC).
Also present was Community Health Coordinator Ann Nduta.
Amref Health Africa in Kenya, Johnson & Johnson, ALMA (African Leaders Malaria Alliance) and The ELMA Philanthropies