The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr. Deborah M. Barasa, has underscored the critical role of nurses and midwives in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Kenya.
Speaking at the County Chief Nursing Officers’ Workshop held at Pride Inn Azure, Westlands She assured them of Ministry’s unwavering support in addressing issues that they face so as to create a a thriving environment for nursing and midwifery.
“I want to assure you of the Ministry of Health’s unwavering support. We recognize the challenges that you face, including resource limitations, infrastructure gaps, and workload pressures. Together, we are committed to addressing these challenges and to creating an environment where Nursing and Midwifery thrive.” She said.
Dr. Barasa lauded nurses as the cornerstone of Kenya’s healthcare system, describing them as a ‘pillar of UHC.’ Recognizing their pivotal role as the first point of contact for patients, she announced that the Ministry is dedicated to supporting capacity-building programs to enhance their clinical skills, leadership capabilities, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. These initiatives are designed to empower nurses and midwives to drive transformative change in healthcare delivery.
Building on their indispensable role in the healthcare system, Dr. Barasa highlighted the direct impact of nurses and midwives on the success of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Social Health Authority (SHA) ¬¬_the new governing body for the Social Health Insurance Fund. She emphasized that as frontline providers of care, nurses and midwives are critical in ensuring that healthcare services reach every Kenyan, regardless of location or economic status.
To support the SHA rollout, Dr. Barasa unveiled plans to deploy a dedicated nurse in every county as a champion for the program. “Ministry of Health aims to deploy a Nurse to every county as a champion to steer the success of SHA. I have realized that when Nurses head programs, they ensure success. My congratulations to all Nurses and Midwives.” she remarked.
Nurses and midwives play a vital role beyond caregiving, like leadership, which is essential in the implementation of transformative healthcare initiatives like SHA.
Dr. Barasa also commended the adoption of AI-driven data collection systems by nursing leaders during the workshop, positioning them at the forefront of innovation and effective service delivery.
The workshop focused on leveraging digital health solutions and adapting to new treatment protocols with nursing and midwifery leaders adopting an AI-driven data collection system to enhance service delivery. Dr. Barasa commended this initiative, emphasizing the importance of innovation in achieving Universal Health Coverage and advancing the Social Health Authority’s (SHA) goals.
Expressing her gratitude for their service, Dr. Barasa said,
”I would like to express my deep gratitude to each of you for your dedication and service to the people of Kenya. The journey to achieving UHC is not easy, but with strong, visionary leadership, I am confident we will succeed. Let us embrace transformational leadership, not just as a concept, but as a way of working, as a way of inspiring others, and as a way of ensuring that our healthcare system truly serves every Kenyan.”
Dr. Barasa also expressed gratitude to partners such as world Health Organization (WHO), Johnson & Johnson, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and JHPIEGO for their contributions to strengthening Kenya’s nursing and midwifery sector.
