Health Principal Secretary speaking during the launch.[Photo/Ismail Mohammed]
The Government has introduced training in Bachelor of Science (BSc) Clinical Medicine in Kenyan universities.
The ministry of health has taken the move as one of the innovations aimed at increasing the access and coverage of clinical services to most Kenyans living in rural areas.
According to the Principal Secretaryfor Health, Mr. Julius Korir, the graduates will help in early screening,diagnosis and treatment of non-communicable diseases which are responsible forup to about 50% of the morbidity.
The four-year course will be offered at Egerton University, Kisii University, Kabianga University,Kabarak University, Mount Kenya University, Great Lakes and Uzima CatholicUniversity.
Thechosen universities will empower clinical officers to perform life-savingprocedures such as caesarean section.Korir emphasized that the clinical officers have anew Act No. 20 of 2017 which was enacted by Parliament in 2017 to empower them practiceas per their professional code of conduct.
The principal secretary was speaking on Sunday during the Clinical Officers meeting on devolved functions and launch of the Clinical Officers Council StrategicPlan 2016-2021 in Nairobi.
“This Act provides for the Training,Registration and Licensing of Clinical Officers,” Korir said during themeeting.