Factors Affecting of Health Services by Community Health Units

Abstract

Health is a major component in the socio-economic development of any community. Promotion of good health at different levels of the society is the responsibility of all individuals, families, households, and communities [1]. Implementing community health services is a top priority of the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation (MOPHS), and its partners in Kenya. This is well articulated in the Ministry of Health Joint Programme of Work and Funding, 2006/2007–2009/2010, the MoPHS strategic plan 2008-2010 and the second National Health Sector Strategic Plan (NHSSP II) of 2005–2010 [2]. The Kenya Essential Package for Health (KEPH) introduced six life-cycle cohorts and six service delivery levels. One of its key innovations is the recognition and introduction of level 1 service, which aimed at empowering Kenyan households and communities to take charge of improving their own health (Ibid). Community strategy which forms basis to achieve this is an approach which aims at empowering individual communities at household level to take control of their own health issues through community health units. The community forms the foundation in the provision of affordable, equitable and effective health care [3].