On the 9th of March, the Human Resource for Health (HRH) team officially set off to kick-start the data collection process for an epic study dubbed “Towards a Unified Health Workforce Information System: Examining the Kenyan Workforce Landscape and Policy and Institutional Frameworks Governing Health Providers and Information.”
It is an ambitious project, one that has the potential to greatly transform the health workforce landscape in Kenya.
Seven counties, one big mission
The study spans seven counties, deliberately selected to reflect the geographic, demographic, and health system diversity that defines Kenya’s devolved landscape. So far, data collection has been completed in Homa Bay, Tharaka Nithi, Trans Nzoia, and Murang’a, with Kilifi, Garissa, and Nairobi next in line as the exercise continues to build a comprehensive national picture.
First impressions matter
The team started by conducting entry meetings in each county with the respective County Health Management Teams (CHMTs). These have proved instrumental in ensuring the study is contextualized, fostering trust among the counties, and ensuring the research is collaborative rather than exploitative.
The counties of Homa Bay, Tharaka Nithi, Murang’a, and Trans Nzoia have already been covered, representing significant progress in just a matter of weeks.
No one left behind
A unique attribute of this study is the inclusiveness of the research. All cadres within the health sector are being surveyed, from specialists and clinicians to nurses, midwives, and support staff.
Notably, the research also reaches the often-overlooked frontlines of the health system in Kenya and the first point of contact for millions of households: the community health promoters (CHWs).
This breadth ensures that the research covers the entirety of the health workforce, not just the “tip of the iceberg.”
So, why does this matter?
The health workforce in Kenya remains an essential but not well-understood pillar of the health system. Data fragmentation, information system inconsistencies, and policy shortcomings have long hindered the planning of the deployment, well-being, and development of the health workforce.
This research has the potential to alter this status quo. The dual focus on the health workforce and the policy and institutional framework in which they operate makes this research uniquely positioned to inform policy reform.
The journey continues
Having done four counties and with three more to go; Kilifi, Garissa, and Nairobi, the journey is certainly underway. Each county contributes another piece of information to the overall country picture, and the variation across counties will be one of the biggest strengths of this study.
The countdown for more updates will begin as the data collection phase progresses. The foundation being set today will help mold the way forward for the country’s health workforce planning.
