Kenya’s healthcare system is undergoing a transformation as digital tools reshape how services are delivered at the community and facility levels, according to Mary Muthoni, Principal Secretary, State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards.
Speaking on Thursday in an interview with Radio Generation, she said technology has made it easier to track health indicators and improve patient care across the country.
“Community health promoters used to move from household to household carrying heavy books, checking who was pregnant, who had children, who was vaccinated, and if there were any emerging issues in the community,” Muthoni explained.
“Now, this work is fully digitized, making their tasks faster and more accurate.”
There are currently 107,831 community health promoters nationwide, each assigned about 100 households.
Given that a typical Kenyan household has roughly five people, each promoter serves around 500 residents.
With the introduction of the Digital Health Act of 2023, these workers are legally empowered to collect and report data efficiently, receiving stipends for their work while providing real-time health information to authorities.
“When I open my computer, I can see everything that happened yesterday, from all 47 counties,” Muthoni said.
“I can check how many people were screened for diabetes, how many children were assessed for malnutrition, and how many women, including teen mothers, were referred for antenatal care,” the PS added.
The digitization extends beyond preventive services at the community level.
Health promoters, considered level one, link residents to higher-level facilities where trained nurses and clinical officers provide further care.
PS Muthoni highlighted the importance of following the referral system: “If the community health promoter says your blood pressure is high, don’t rush to the chemist. Go to the nearest facility to be treated by a skilled worker. Only then, if necessary, will you be referred to a higher-level facility.”
Digital tools also track healthcare workers and facilities.
Licenses are linked to facilities, ensuring doctors can only record procedures where they are physically present.
Facility dashboards monitor bed capacity in real time, preventing patients from sleeping on floors due to overcrowding.
“If your bed capacity is 1,800, like Kenyatta, and you want more patients, you need to buy more beds or expand infrastructure. Nobody should sleep on the floor,” PS Muthoni added.
According to the Principal Secretary, digitization has reduced inefficiencies and improved patient care across Kenya.
It ensures accurate data collection, strengthens referral systems, and allows authorities to respond quickly to emerging health needs, marking a major shift in how healthcare is delivered nationwide.
