How Local Health Workers Are Transforming Childcare in Kenya's Refugee Settlements
Kalobeyei, 6 September 2026
Thirty community health promoters in Turkana have completed vital early childhood training, introducing innovative practices like prenatal bonding to bridge healthcare gaps for refugee and host families.
Bridging the Health Divide in Turkana West
On 5 September 2026, a cohort of 30 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) from villages 1 to 3 within the Kalobeyei Refugee Settlement successfully completed a comprehensive seven-day training programme [1]. This initiative, situated in Turkana—the second-largest county in Kenya spanning 77,000 square kilometres—specifically targets early childhood development for children aged up to three years [1]. Organised through a collaborative partnership between the Turkana County Government and Amref Health Africa, with support from the LEGO Foundation, the training aims to operationalise the Nurturing Care Framework (NCF) [1]. By equipping this third cohort, the initiative builds on previous efforts where 60 CHPs had already completed similar training, bringing the total number of trained promoters in the system to 90 [1].
Practical Tools and Digital Integration for Household Care
The core objective of this training is to close the critical health service gaps that exist between the refugee populations and host communities within Turkana West [1]. According to Gladys Arika, the Director of Medical Services for KISEDP, investing in the skills of these CHPs represents a direct investment in the survival, growth, and development of every child under five years of age within both communities [1]. The framework is designed to fundamentally alter how children experience their first 1,000 days of life by integrating play, mental health, and psychosocial support (MHPSS) alongside social and emotional learning (SEL) directly into household-level care [1].
Integrating Systems for Early Detection
To translate these concepts into daily practice, the trained health promoters are equipped with Instructive Manuals to guide their household visits [1]. They are also trained to use the electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS) platform, which allows for digital integration and precise tracking of developmental milestones in children under five [1]. This digital approach is complemented by practical, home-based tools; the training team developed an implementation roadmap and created age-appropriate play items to stimulate early learning and responsive caregiving at home [1]. Reinhard Anzeze, a Technical Officer for Tucheze Tustawi at Amref Health Africa, emphasised that the true success of the NCF is realised when a CHP can confidently walk into a home and guide a caregiver through play, communication, and early stimulation [1].
A Holistic Approach to Childhood Development
The training curriculum focuses heavily on five essential components of the Nurturing Care Framework: good health—which encompasses immunisation, antenatal care, hygiene, and disease prevention; adequate nutrition, including breastfeeding and complementary feeding; safety and security; responsive caregiving; and early learning opportunities [1]. Susan Amana, the Health Promotions Officer at Kakuma Refugee Camp and Kalobeyei Settlements, noted that establishing strong linkages between households and healthcare facilities is the foundation for catching developmental delays early, which is reinforced by ensuring every household has access to a well-equipped CHP [1].
Real-World Impact and Accessing Community Support
The practical application of these techniques has already shown immediate, positive results within the settlement. On 3 September 2026, Bosco Juma, a CHP representing the Natukobenyo 4 Unit, successfully trialled prenatal bonding techniques—such as playing with the belly and speaking to the unborn child—after learning about them the previous day [1]. Juma reported that the baby’s response to his touch and voice immediately brightened his home, inspiring him to integrate this practice into his father-to-father support groups [1]. Meanwhile, Uwaikani Sineno, a CHP from the Natukobenyo 2 Unit, highlighted how the training addresses the challenges of busy, exhausted parents, reminding them of the vital importance of early engagement and urging expectant mothers to visit hospitals early in pregnancy to receive essential nutritional supplements [1].
How to Access Services and Eligibility
For families residing within villages 1 to 3 of the Kalobeyei Refugee Settlement and the surrounding host communities in Turkana West, accessing these healthcare services is highly straightforward [1]. Eligible households—specifically those with pregnant women or children under the age of five—do not need to undergo a complex registration or application process [1]. Instead, they will receive direct household visits from the newly trained CHPs, who will conduct home-based assessments, distribute early learning play items, and monitor child development using the eCHIS platform on an ongoing basis [1]. There are no formal deadlines to apply, as the integrated community health system operates continuously to ensure continuous coverage and support for all eligible households [1].