Public Health in Kenya

Na kwani Preventive Health cadres hawafikiwangwi na hizi consultations?😃 Out of curiosity with this planned for COs, ya doctors ilipangwa? We need a CHOs Scope of Practice to align what CHOs train and what they practice. We need the draft PHOs Scope of Practice revised to better it and signed, then disseminated for implementation for Bora Afya.

Accurate community health data is the foundation of informed decision making and stronger healthcare systems. Today, we commenced a three day Community Health Assessment Data Verification exercise in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County, to validate community health data and strengthen planning for better health services. The exercise brings together Community Health Promoters from across the county to verify data, identify service delivery gaps and improve primary healthcare. So far, Community Health Promoters in Ol Kalou have registered 18,920 households on the electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS), revisited more than 85 percent of them for routine health services, conducted thousands of diabetes and hypertension screenings, and supported maternal and child health through timely referrals and assessments. Over the next three days, we will engage communities across the five wards of Ol Kalou Constituency as we strengthen community health services. Plans are also underway to roll out this exercise in other parts of the country.

Kenyatta National Hospital CEO Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, CBS, today hosted Ministry of Health officials John Ndungu, Senior Deputy Director of Public Health, and Lolem Lokolile Bosco, Assistant Director of Public Health, for discussions on Medical and Hazardous Waste Management Facility funded by the Government of Japan The project aims to enhance the safe, environmentally sound treatment and disposal of medical and hazardous waste. Following the transfer of the project's implementation mandate to the Ministry of Health, the facility is set to be established at Kenyatta National Hospital. The engagement marks an important step towards strengthening sustainable healthcare waste management, protecting public health, and advancing environmental stewardship. #KNHInakujali #KNHAt125

Great Lakes University of Kisumu is today hosting a delegation from the Public Health Officers and Technicians Council (PHOTC) for the inspection of the University's Public Health programme. The delegation is led by the Head of Inspection, Dr. John Kariuki, and includes; Mr. William Kitagwa (a Lecturer at PHOTC), Ms. Amina Kogo (PHOTC Secretariat), Ms. Millicent Matimbai (In-Charge of Compliance), and Mr. Thomas Maera (Standards and Compliance). The team paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor Prof. Hazel Miseda Mumbo at her office before proceeding to the Department of Public Health, where they are currently undertaking the day's inspection activities. In her opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor expressed optimism that the excercise was going to be fruitful in light of the infrastructure and the systems the university had put in place to support the program. The exercise, which is ongoing, reflects the University's commitment to maintaining high standards in public health education and ensuring compliance with professional and regulatory requirements.

The Public Health Officers and Technicians Council (PHOTC), led by CEO/Registrar Anthony Wainaina, successfully conducted the Moderation Exercise for the August 2026 Professional Examination Series at Machakos University Hotel. The exercise brought together the PHOTC Secretariat and moderators from Public Health Training Institutions to review examination papers and marking schemes for certificate, diploma and degree levels, ensuring fairness, quality and alignment with curriculum and examination guidelines. PHOTC remains committed to upholding professionalism, integrity and excellence in the training and licensing of Public Health professionals in Kenya. Candidates from accredited institutions are reminded that the examination application portal remains open until 20th July 2026. Eligible candidates are encouraged to apply in time.

1.2.1 Hand Washing - School Hygiene Promotion Handbook: A Handbook For Teachers Learning Outcomes: By the end of this lesson, the learners should be able to: 1. State the importance of hand washing with soap and running water at critical moments; 2. Demonstrate the steps for hand washing; 3. Explain the critical moments for hand washing. Duration: 40 minutes Learning Materials: • Poster showing a child washing his/her hands • Poster showing hand washing pledge and 4 occasions of hand washing • Flip chart or blackboard with the writing items • Hand washing equipment (which can be either tippy taps or leaky tins or basins or jugs) • Soap or any alternative cleansing agent. • Ball, glitter and Petroleum Jelly (PJ) • Hand washing song Key Messages: a. Washing hands with soap and clean water keeps one healthy b. Clean hands saves lives c. Most critical times for hand washing: after visiting the toilet and before eating Learning Activities: STEP 1: Begin by introducing the topic and the learning objectives of the hand washing lesson. STEP 2: Refer the learners to the poster with a child washing his/her hands. STEP 3: Ask the learners to say why hand washing is important and explain the critical moments for hand washing. Once you have received all the answers underscore that hand washing helps to prevent hygiene-related diseases such as diarrhoea, respiratory infections. STEP 4: Next Demonstrate to the learners the glitter ball demo. This will help drive awareness of the importance of handwashing. STEP 5: Next, ask the learners to go outside and form a semi-circle around a functional hand washing facility with soap (if it is not available a jug with clean water can be used). Ask for volunteers among the learners who want to demonstrate the procedure for hand washing. Once many learners have demonstrated the procedure, highlight the following steps for hand washing (using the illustration overleaf): a. Wet your hands with clean running water; b. Apply soap or any other appropriate alternative to soap such as ash; c. Rub your hands together for at least 10-15 seconds; thoroughly wash the wrists, palms, back of hands, between fingers and under the nail crevices; d. Rinse hands with clean running water; and e. Air dry hands to avoid recontamination by using shared towels. STEP 6: At the end of the lesson: Ask the learners to tell you what the critical times for washing the hands are. When you have received all the answers, conclude the session by identifying the following critical moments for hand washing: a. After using the toilet / latrine; b. Before handling / preparing food; c. After changing a babies diaper /napkin or a used potty; d. Before eating; and e. Before feeding a baby. STEP 7: Remind learners to show and tell their parents, guardians, friends and family of what they have learnt STEP 8: Wrap up the session with a hand washing pledge and song.

Kaa hauna "connections" haupati "job". 😃 Network.

Community Health is and will remain a subset of Public Health. It was born in the year 2007 by the very Public Health Officers and Technicians we seem to overlook, their training curriculum and there scope of work was developed by PHOs. The founding fathers of community health are Dr. Mwitari and Dr. Ombacho etal both seasoned and registered public health officers in Kenya. How we appear to implement community health without involvement of public health officers and technicians as the lead implementers is what baffles me. Today we might burry our heads in the sand and fail to advise our very good and able Ps @⁨Tr. Mary Muthoni PS⁩ well because we want to look good and loyal but it will end in Premium tears!. Truth be told that public health officers and technicians are highly trained proffessionals in community health and prevention let us empower them to steer and steady the ship so that the Government of HE President William Ruto and the Ministry of health can realize the gains of Community health service for the benefits of all kenyans! I speak equally in my own rights as a proffessional public health officer trained and registered and in an active service in Kenya. *May God bless our Hon. Ps to appreciate my thought process.* Thank you. Brown Ashira, KEHPHPU SG.

I can finally admit Unemployment imepanga Nurses. From Babu to Sakin that is the story. Sad when Nursing is the health course employing the most numbers. Huku kwetu KMTC CHAs wameshindwa kupanga hata demo about their unemployment. - Na wakapeana an excuse even a villager wouldn't buy 😃 In December 2026 KMTC might just hit 10,000+ total CHAs + CHOs graduates. - It will nice to do that labour market analysis PHOIs are still unpaid. - KEHPHPU should fight walipwe Luckily we can hear about Nurse Volunteers. - The last I heard that was from a Rift county Nurse For us unfortunately some PHOs volunteer for more than 10 years. Wanjagi was saying CHAs should be allowed to volunteer. Sakin has explained the story of volunteering health professionals better. I would love to hear from yPHOs or yCHOs who have graduated since 2021. Ni kaa ni mbaya.🥲

Heko Bora Afya in the New WSPAK Leadership 2026 / PHOs In OHS *Desma Kayando🥇 *Wendy Mwiti🥇 Thanks for conquering OHS. 🙏🏿 May this inspire more yPHOs / BSc PHOs to join OHS and win too. PHOs Delivering Everywhere⚔️

Assistant Public Health Officer III - Job Group 'H'- Vacancy No: 6/2026/KCPSB: Positions: 4 post(s) Terms of Service: Permanent And Pensionable Job Summary: The Kwale County Public Service Board Wishes to recruit competent and qualified persons on permanent and pensionable terms to fill the following positions in the department of Health Services. Duties And Responsibilities: 1. Mobilizing, sensitizing and advising communities on matters related to environmental health 2. Referring of health cases to relevant health facilities 3. Carrying out immunization 4. Identifying environmental health issues at community level 5. Organizing community health days to advise communities on common public health issues 6. Collecting and maintaining up to date records of services rendered 7. Assessing health needs of the community 8. Implementing vector, vermin and rodent control measures 9. Implementing integrated mosquito control strategies 10. Sitting of homesteads, pit latrines, grain stores, trading centers, emergency camps 11. Implementing sanitation and hygiene standards in the community 12. Undertaking inspection for preventive maintenance at the health facility, hospital sanitation including healthcare waste management 13. Any other relevant duty and responsibility within the County Health Department Qualifications: Requirements For Appointment 1. Must have a Diploma in Environmental Health Sciences 2. Has a valid registration with the Public Health Officers and Technicians Council 3. Has a valid practicing license 4. Certificate in Computer application skills from a recognized institution How To Apply: Note: All applications should be submitted on or before Thursday 23rd JULY 2026 by 4:30PM in a sealed envelope clearly marked on the left side the category (position) which they fall and addressed to: The Board Secretary/CEO Kwale County Public Service Board P.O BOX 4 – 80403 KWALE Posted or hand delivered to the Kwale County Public Service Board Offices next to Kwale District Hospital and opposite Baraza Park – Kwale Town. Applicants must attach copies of the following documents: 1. National ID Card 2. Academic and Professional Certificates 3. Leaving Certificates and Other Testimonials 4. Valid Practicing License 5. Registration Certificates to a relevant Professional Body Women and People Living with Disabilities are encouraged to apply Please visit our official website www.kwale.go.ke for details on job requirements.