STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY HEALTH: CHPs TRAINED ON RISK ASSESSMENT, SCREENING AND REFERRAL OF HYPERTENSION AND DIABETES
Community Health Promoters (CHPs) from Nyadhi, Komenya Kalaka, and Umala Community Units participated in a three-day training from 9th to 11th December, 2024 on community-based screening for hypertension and diabetes. The training organized by Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) through the VLIR-IUC Project, took place at Candela Hotel in Siaya County and focused on equipping CHPs with skills to combat Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) at the grassroots level.
The event was graced by Siaya County Health Management Teams (CHMTs), Alego-Usonga Sub-County Medical Officer of Health together with the County NCD Coordinator, Dr. Peter Amoth, who opened the training with crucial insights. Dr. Peter Amoth, opened the sessions with sobering statistics; up to 40% of deaths in Siaya County are caused by NCDs, and further, about 50% of hospital admissions in the region are related to NCDs. Dr. Amoth emphasized the critical role Community Health Promoters play as frontline healthcare providers in supporting community-level healthcare systems.
Alego-Usonga Sub-County Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jonathan Ino, another key facilitator, urged participants to focus on Non-Communicable Diseases. He encouraged the Community Health Promoters to assess, diagnose, manage, and refer cases effectively using standardized protocols. Prof. Julius Manyala, speaking on behalf of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic, Students Affairs and Research), reiterated the university's commitment to community empowerment as part of its core mandate. He underscored the importance of addressing emerging health challenges, especially Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), through such initiatives.
The training, is part of the PhD objective for Mr. Sylvester Okumu, which is core to the role of Community Health Promoters in community-based health interventions. The training was geared towards Risk identification, risk measurements (through anthropometrics-waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, weight and height measurements), Blood pressure measurements, Blood sugar measurements, e-CHIS Assessment of NCDs and their Risk Factors (hypertension and diabetes), Communication of key NCD messages and Referrals of people at risk of NCDs. Mr. Okumu is being supervised by Prof. Josefien Van Olmen (University of Antwerp), Prof. J.P Bogers (University of Antwerp) together with supervisors from JOOUST that includes Dr. Jane Owenga, Dr. Amos Otedo and Prof. Solomom Ogara.
The sessions utilized a participatory approach, including hands-on training involving practical skills for community-based screening, group work and mentorship sessions that encouraged collaborative and shared learning approaches and capacity building through strengthening the role of CHPs within the healthcare system. The training enhanced screening and referral rates for hypertension (HTN) and T2D, built capacity for raising awareness of risk factors; equipped CHPs to support targeted community outreaches; fostered sustainable collaboration between CHPs and healthcare providers.
This initiative reflects JOOUST’s dedication to addressing health challenges in the region by empowering Community Health Promoters to act as vital links between the community and the healthcare system. It is a significant step toward reducing the burden of Non-Communicable Diseases in Siaya County.
