The nomination of nurses who will receive Beyond Zero health awards entered the penultimate stage over the weekend with the last county nomination teams concluding the exercise.
First Lady Margaret Kenyatta will present the awards to the finalists in recognition of their frontline role in the provision of primary healthcare and contribution towards the country’s achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) at the Beyond Zero Summit scheduled for later this month.
This year’s Summit, which is the second to be held under the aegis of the Beyond Zero Initiative, will focus on primary healthcare as the cornerstone of UHC and the first point of contact for most patients.
Speaking in her office in Nairobi after receiving the county nomination status report, Beyond Zero Coordinator Ms Angella Langat commended the county nomination teams for their diligence and commitment that ensured the process was robust and vibrant.
“I thank all the county nomination teams for working hard and impartially throughout the rigorous process. I know the competition was stiff as all the nurses who applied put their best foot forward. I am convinced that the very best among equals were picked for the awards at the county level,” the Beyond Zero Coordinator said.
Ms Langat assured of fairness and transparency even as the nomination process enters the final stages.
A total of 376 top nurses from across the 47 counties will receive the individual nurse practitioner awards in recognition of their contribution to boosting primary healthcare in level 2 dispensaries and level 3 health centres. For the individual nurse practitioner awards, the county nomination teams assessed the applicants based on their personal and professional attributes. Some of the personal attributes that were assessed included how well the nurses communicate with their clients as well as how well the nurses are able to collaborate with their colleagues. The teams also looked at whether the nurses were kind and considerate; and whether or not they always thought about the clients’ needs.
Professional attributes that were assessed at the individual nurse practitioner level included leadership skills, honesty, qualification and experienced.
The best five nurse led-initiatives or projects in levels 2 to 5 Government-run health facilities from each of the 47 counties covering a total of 235 teams will be feted.
A Beyond Zero team, that visited some of the participating counties including Kisumu, Vihiga, Kakamega, Nakuru, Kajiado, Kiambu, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kilifi to monitor the exercise, was satisfied that the county nomination teams were thorough in their assessments.
While in the field, the Beyond Zero team got a chance to speak with residents on their experiences with nurses based at the health facilities they frequently visit for medical attention. One of those interviewed was 37-year-old Loise Wanjala Mwamburi, a resident of Mwatate in Taita Taveta County. The mother of five applauded the role of nurses in promoting maternal and child health at the grassroots level.
“I have delivered all my five children at Modambogho dispensary with the help of nurses. Besides delivery, the nurses at this dispensary have also been treating my children when they get sick and they are very kind,” Loise commended the nurses in her neighbourhood health facilities.
Others like Mercy Odhiambo from Osinde village in Kisumu County observed that were it not for the help of nurse Nancy at the Gita Sub County hospital, she would not be alive today.
She emotionally narrated to the Beyond Zero team how she developed labour pains late in the night and was rushed to hospital where she was assisted by nurse Nancy to safely deliver her child before the rest of the team on night shift took over.
Ms Langat has expressed confidence that the awarding of nurses by the First Lady during the forthcoming Beyond Zero Summit will inspire and rejuvenate the critical service providers’ commitment to serve with renewed passion and vigour for the benefit of all Kenyans.
The Beyond Zero Coordinator hopes that the nurse awards and the Summit will catalyze increased investments in healthcare by sector stakeholders especially in human resource development as Kenya races towards the last mile in the reduction of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and Syphilis as well as end preventable maternal and child deaths.
This is just great….i remember a mother i assisted to deliver in my health centre….to date she still thank me since she did not ave means of transport…and even money its self to pay transport…..thank God for this initiative…its the best
I wish I could be motivated over the selfless tasks I do, but God has a throne for such. I will keep on doing it for humankind. Congratulations to teams who won the award. I came a semifinalist👏