AMWIK hosted a three-day workshop in Nakuru County aimed at enhancing county health communication and addressing challenges related to fraud, waste, and abuse within the healthcare sector. The workshop, under the USAID funded USAWA program brought together stakeholders from the county governments of Nakuru, Isiolo, Kilifi, Kakamega and Mombasa health communication departments, the Social Health Authority (SHA), Transparency International-Kenya, Global Compact and the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya.
The workshop delved into various aspects of county health communication, including the structure and roles of county health communication departments, the transition from NHIF to SHA, and the challenges faced by the USAID-USAWA program. Participants discussed innovative solutions to address fraud, waste, and abuse within the healthcare sector and shared their experiences and insights.
The workshop highlighted the importance of well-organized county health communication departments, effective stakeholder engagement, and collaboration among stakeholders. Participants discussed the need to address challenges such as limited resources, resistance to change, and inadequate communication channels. Speaking during the event, USAID USAWA Deputy Chief of Party, Titus Gitonga termed “Collaboration between health communicators and journalists is essential for accurate and timely public health messaging.“
Speaking during the event, Queenter Mbori, Executive Director, AMWIK noted the essense of the event. “Counties, we aim to assist you in enhancing your communication efforts to achieve your goals and effectively communicate your impact in the health sector. Poor communication can create a vacuum for speculation and propaganda, hindering your intended outcomes.”
The workshop also identified innovative solutions to combat fraud, waste, and abuse, emphasizing the need for transparency, accountability, and collaboration. Participants emphasized the importance of strengthening relationships between journalists and county governments to ensure effective public communication.
To further advance the goals of improved health communication and governance, the workshop participants agreed on several follow-up actions. These include sharing communication policies, organizing meetings between county communication officials and partners, sharing success stories, and sharing proposals with AMWIK.
The workshop provided a valuable platform for stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities in county health communication. By implementing the recommendations outlined in this blog post, we can work towards strengthening health communication, improving healthcare outcomes, and promoting transparency and accountability within the healthcare sector.
