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{
    "id": 1485090,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1485090/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 352,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Runyenjes, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Muchangi Karemba",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I will begin by saying that I have repeatedly said in this House that there is nothing as prestigious as having good health. A healthy person is a very wealthy person. The people in the forefront in ensuring that our community is healthy are the community health workers. That is why I wish to applaud the idea of coming up with a Bill that will provide a framework under which community health workers will operate. If our healthcare systems were more preventive, we would have lesser health challenges in this country. Looking at what is happening in developed countries, including Cuba from where we got doctors, systems are more preventive. They give more attention to preventive care than curative care, because it is easy to manage illnesses by first of all checking the health of our people before they get illnesses that are difficult to cure. The people to help us in giving that area more attention are the community health workers, because they literally know every homestead. They have a database of who is sick and which homestead requires attention. If this House enacts this law, it is going to help our communities so much. By so doing, we are going to reduce cases that go to higher level hospitals like Levels 3, 4 and 5. If you walk into Level 3, 4 or 5 hospitals, you will find many people queuing for help. I am certain the same people can get the same attention from community health workers. I am very happy that this Bill provides for registration and training of community health workers. We do not want people to masquerade in villages as community health workers who can properly deal health challenges when they are not trained. We do not want people offering services purporting to be doctors when we know too well that they are not trained. The idea of training and equipping them with the necessary knowledge and training is welcome, so that they can properly handle the health challenges in villages. That recognition should go hand in hand with proper remuneration. We should ensure that community health workers get their dues without any delay. That will motivate them to work. They have largely been working without anything. They have been offering their services without anything much. Therefore, recognising them in law should also come with remunerating them so that, as they walk around villages and attend to the community, they are motivated to work. Hon. Temporary Speaker, with those few remarks, I wish to support. Thank you."
}