Speaking at the 2014 CCIH Annual Conference, Dr. Samuel Mwenda, General Secretary of the Christian Health Association of Kenya, describes the organization and its mission and its work in family planning and reproductive health. Dr. Mwenda also addresses the powerful role of religious leaders in delivering health messages to communities and advocating for increased use of family planning services to improve maternal and child health.

1. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
www.chak.or.ke

2. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
Presentation outline
• Introduction to CHAK
• Kenya context
• CHAK FP program strategies
• CHAK engagement of Religious Leaders
for Family Planning
• Achievement and lessons learnt
Christian Health Association
of Kenya

3. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
Introduction to CHAK
Foundation, identity, vision &
mission, purpose, governance and
programs
Christian Health Association
of Kenya

4. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
Our foundation
Revelation 22:1-2 “..the River of the water of Life…flowing from
the throne of God ….down the middle of the great street of the city.
On each side of the River stood the tree of life bearing twelve crops of
fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for
the healing of the nations”
Christian Health Association
of Kenya

5. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”Christian Health Association
of Kenya
Identity, members & partners
Identity - CHAK is a national Faith Based
Organization of the Protestant Churches’
health facilities and programs from all over Kenya
that was registered in 1946.
Our members: We serve our members
(Hospitals, Health Centres, Dispensaries, CBHC,
Churches, MTCs) and Communities
Partnerships – we work in partnership with MOH,
County Health Departments, Development partners,
KCCB-Health Commission, MEDS, UN Agencies,
NGOs, other CHAs, Private Sector, Communities

6. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
Purpose
• The purpose of CHAK is to facilitate
member health facilities to deliver
accessible, comprehensive, quality
health services to Kenyans in accordance
with Christian values and professional
ethics guided by the national health
sector policies.
• Our activities and programs are guided by a
six year Strategic Plan 2011-2016 whose
goal is “To promote universal access to
quality health care”Christian Health Association
of Kenya

7. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”Christian Health Association
of Kenya
Total Membership = 576
 24 Hospitals
 57 Health Centers
 387 Dispensaries
 65 Churches/church
organizations
 27 CBHC
programmes
 16 Medical Training
Colleges &
Universities
www.chak.or.ke

8. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
Governance structure involves
Church Leaders
• Meets annually in April
• Top policy organ that includes all member
Churches and member health facilities,
Trustees & EXCO
AGM
• Six senior Church Leaders from member
churches (Methodist, Presbyterian, Anglican, SDA,
AIC, AGC)
• Registered with the Registrar of Societies
TRUSTEES
• Board of CHAK
• 8 members elected by the AGM
• Chairman is a senior National Church Leader
• Treasurer has financial background
• RCCs are regional structures for networking & advocacy &
include Church Leaders
EXCO/Board
RCCs
• Charged with the day-to-day implementation of
Strategic Plan and Projects
• Has 3 Departments under the leadership of the General
Secretary. Three support units of M&E, HR, ICT & Audit
SECRETARIAT

9. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
CHAK Health Programs
Christian Health Association
of Kenya

10. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
Health programs
• HIV&AIDS
• MNCH and Malaria
• Tuberculosis (TB)
• Reproductive Health & Family
Planning
• Medical Education
• Diabetes prevention & management
• Hypertension screening & management
• Health Systems Strengthening
Christian Health Association
of Kenya

11. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
Central role of Religion & Faith in Church Health
Services

12. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”Christian Health Association
of Kenya
We engage Church Leaders, CHWs in congregations
and Church Groups to educate, mobilize and create
linkages & referral to Health Facilities for services

13. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
Kenya context
• TFR – 3.9 KDHS 2014 – down from 4.6 in 2009.
(Disparities:- 5 counties have 6.1 – 7.8: 22 counties 4.1-6
• Unmet need for family planning - 23%. (KDHS 2014).
• CPR -58% (KDHS 2014)
• IMR-39/1,000 live births
• Under fives MR – 52/1,000 live births
• MMR – 400/100,000 live births (WHO 2013)
• 61% - deliveries in hospitals
• However there are major disparities in these
indicators across the 47 countiesChristian Health Association
of Kenya

14. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
Goal in RH/FP programs
Goal
CHAK shares the MOH goal of increasing equitable
access, improve quality, efficiency and effectiveness in RH
for all Kenyans to enhance good health outcomes.
Objectives
• Reduce unmet need for FP
• Increase demand, access, availability and utilization of
integrated RH/FP services within the community
Christian Health Association
of Kenya

15. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
CHAK FP promotion strategies
• Capacity building of health facility and community based
providers of FP services to improve knowledge, skills, and
attitudes for enhanced performance and quality in the provision
of RH/FP services.
• Sensitization of Religious Leaders on RH/FP and
equipping them to play the role of champions
• Community mobilization for RH/FP through community
engagement, awareness creation through IEC materials and
outreach services
• Improve linkages and referral system from
community to health facilities
• Advocacy for improved commodity security from
MOH and the County Health Departments.Christian Health Association
of Kenya

16. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
Receiving some technical support and lessons
from other countries at the community
Christian Health Association
of Kenya

17. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
Reality about Religious Leaders and
Religious Institutions
• They are diverse with varying levels of capacity
• They have different levels of complexity in decision
making
• Can be slow in embracing change in their values, beliefs
and practices
• Are at different levels of knowledge, acceptance,
utilization and promotion of family health & FP
• Are sometimes perceived as barriers to RH/FP
• However they present a great opportunity for the
sustainable scale up of any public health programs
particularly in Africa
Christian Health Association
of Kenya

18. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
Why Religious Leaders engagement is
important
• They command respect and trust in the communities
• They have a captive audience every week
• They are deeply committed to the well being of the
individual and family : spiritual and physical
• They are accepted to have a prophetic voice in
challenging oppressive and retrogressive culture and
practices in society
• They have interest and need for capacity building and
equipping in health issues
• When empowered they can become champions in the
community
Christian Health Association
of Kenya

19. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
CHW giving women orientation on
use of Cycle Beads
Christian Health Association
of Kenya

20. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
Example of successful Religious
Leaders engagement
• Baseline survey had indicated low uptake of FP in the
faith based facilities
• 48 HCW trained on contraceptive method mix
• 210 Religious Leaders trained and engaged in
giving FP health messages.
• A total of 12,352 people received with FP
messages by Religious Leaders
• 1438 clients referred to health facilities for FP
methods
Christian Health Association
of Kenya

21. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
Trends of improving Indicators

22. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
Engaging men for increasing FP
uptake
Christian Health Association
of Kenya

23. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
What has worked for CHAK
• Begin by Building trust by identifying common
ground
• Engage in continuous dialogue – appreciate
where they are at and their issues and needs
• Empower through appropriate capacity
building
• Provide appropriate tools and IEC materials
to support their communication
• Involve them and maintain engagement for
motivation and support
• Recognize and appreciate their efforts
Christian Health Association
of Kenya

24. “Promoting Access to quality healthcare”
Thank you
Asante
Christian Health Association
of Kenya