Volunteers Play Key Role in Disease Prevention

Report highlighted that Enai Africa donated medical kits worth Sh 10 million to a group of 1,000 Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) in Kajiado County, equipping them to more effectively identify and manage non-communicable diseases (NCDs) at the household level. The kits enable volunteers to carry out basic screenings, monitor for conditions like diabetes or hypertension, and act as a first line of defense — especially in remote or underserved areas where professional health facilities are far.
In addition to NCDs, volunteers in many communities also handle communicable and acute diseases. For example, in efforts supported by World Vision International, CHVs have played a central role in detecting and managing Tuberculosis (TB). They identify individuals showing symptoms, collect sputum samples for diagnosis, refer patients to health facilities for treatment, and follow up to make sure treatment adherence — especially important during pandemic-era disruptions. Through these interventions, they help limit TB spread and improve recovery outcomes.
Beyond disease detection and treatment facilitation, volunteers also contribute significantly to prevention through health education and promotion. In a recent account from Murang’a County, CHVs (also known as Community Health Promoters, CHPs) visit households to share information on nutrition, hygiene, sanitation, and general healthy living — aiming to reduce incidents of waterborne diseases, malnutrition, and preventable childhood illnesses. In some villages, CHVs have helped ensure widespread adoption of pit latrines and safe water-handling practices, which has led to measurable reductions in diarrhoeal diseases.
More broadly, national health policy in Kenya has formally embraced community-level volunteers as essential to preventive health. As of March 2025, the government reported that over 107,831 CHPs have been deployed across the country — a key part of a shift toward preventive and primary care, rather than only curative care.By extending healthcare outreach into homes and remote communities, CHVs/CHPs bridge the gap between formal health facilities and vulnerable populations, improving access to care and enabling early identification of health risks.